Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: Issues and Trends

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Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Issues and
Trends

• Joseph J. Cocozza, Ph.D
• National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile
  Justice
• Policy Research Associates, Inc.

Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention Washington, DC September
8, 2006
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National Center for Mental Healthand Juvenile
Justice

• Key Functions
• Serve as National Resource Center
• Conduct Research
• Foster Policy and Systems Change
• Funding
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
  Prevention
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administration
• Website
• www.ncmhjj.com

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Research studies consistently report high rates
of mental health disorders among youth in the
juvenile justice system

• Recent OJJDP/NCMHJJ study confirms high
  rates-regardless of geographical location or type
  of residential setting
• Multi-state, understudied sites (LA, TX, WA)
• Continuum of settings
• Sample of 1,437 boys and girls, age 11-18
• Data collected using standardized
  Screening/Assessment Instruments

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2. Approximately 70 of youth meet the criteria
for at least one psychiatric disorder
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• Many of These Youth ExperienceMultiple and
  Severe Disorders

• More than half (55.6) of youth met criteria for
  at least two diagnoses
• Over 90 of youth with Conduct Disorders also
  experienced at least one other mental disorder
• 60.8 of youth with a mental disorder also had a
  substance use disorder
• About 27 of justice-involved youth have
  disorders that are serious enough to require
  immediate and significant treatment

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Other factors are fueling the growing sense of
crisis surrounding youth with mental disorders

• Numbers entering the juvenile justice system
  increasing
• Texas data show a 27 increase of youth with high
  mental health needs over a six year period
  (Texas Youth Commission, 2002)
• Youth being inappropriately placed
• 2/3 of juvenile detention facilities youth held
  unnecessarily because of unavailable services
  (Congressional Committee on Government Reform,
  2004)
• Mental health services often unavailable or
  inadequate
• Series of DOJ investigations document poor
  training, inadequate clinical services,
  inappropriate use of medications etc.
  (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005)

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• There are a number of trends, services and
  strategies that are developing to support the
  better identification and treatment of these
  youth
• Standardized mental health screening and
  assessment procedures
• Evidence-based interventions and promising
  practices
• Comprehensive mental health and juvenile justice
  programs and models

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5a. Spread of Mental Health Screening

• MAYSI now used system wide in 39 states

Grisso, 2006
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5b. Growing understanding of What Works
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5c. Comprehensive Programs and Models

• SAMHSAs Policy Academies
• MacArthur Foundations Models for Change
  Initiative
• OJJDP/NCMHJJs Blueprint for Change

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Blueprint for Change- Conceptual Framework
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6. Despite progress, much needs to be done

• Effective treatment diversion programs, expanded
  community-based mental health services,
  gender-specific services, increased use of EBPs,
  integrated programs for youth with co-occurring
  disorders, linkages at re-entry
• At the Federal level
• Greater recognition and support for the needs of
  these youth and the systems that serve them
• Modeling and encouraging cross-agency
  collaborative actions