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 Health and 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:

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
Comparison of Prevalence Finding From Recent Juvenile Justice Studies
Positive Diagnosis
NCMHJJ (2006)
70.4%
Teplin et al. (2002)
69.0%
Wasserman et al. (2002)
68.5%
Wasserman, Ko, McReynolds (2004)
67.2%

5. Many of These Youth Experience Multiple 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. MAYSI now used system wide in 39 states
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