Prison not best answer for FASD: minister

Canada's justice ministers are meeting in Vancouver Wednesday to look for better ways of dealing with convicts with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

While prison is not the best answer, other solutions are expensive, said Alberta Justice Minister Alison Redford.

It's estimated as many as half of all prisoners have FASD.People born with FASD have difficulty learningnew behaviours and controlling their impulses.

Alberta is using diversion programs that place criminals in the community, where they are monitored by social workers, Redford said. But more can be done, she said.

"One of the things that we need to do, I think, is have a really serious conversation about whether or not anything that's currently in the justice system or in the healthcare system is really addressing the unique challenges that people who have FASD are having to face on a daily basis."

Redford said she's looking forward to hearing Wednesday what the federal government has in mind.