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Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: Issues and Trends

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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Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: Issues and Trends

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  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 2. Approximately 70% of youth meet the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. 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

  8. 5a. Spread of Mental Health Screening MAYSI now used system wide in 39 states Grisso, 2006

  9. 5b. Growing understanding of “What Works”

  10. 5c. Comprehensive Programs and Models • SAMHSA’s Policy Academies • MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change Initiative • OJJDP/NCMHJJ’s Blueprint for Change

  11. Blueprint for Change- Conceptual Framework

  12. 6. Despite progress, much needs to be done • Effective treatment diversion programs, expanded community-based mental health services, gender-specific services, increased use of EBP’s, 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

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