# Presentation: 724770

## 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

## 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:
- _[www.ncmhjj.com](http://www.ncmhjj.com/)_

## 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

## 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% |

## 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

- 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

- Many of These Youth ExperienceMultiple and Severe Disorders

## 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)

## 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

- Standardized mental health screening and assessment procedures
- Evidence-based interventions and promising practices
- Comprehensive mental health and juvenile justice programs and models

## MAYSI now used system wide in 39 states

- Grisso, 2006

- 5a. Spread of Mental Health Screening

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

## 5c.  Comprehensive Programs and Models

- SAMHSA’s Policy Academies
- MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change Initiative
- OJJDP/NCMHJJ’s Blueprint for Change

## Blueprint for Change- Conceptual Framework

**Blueprint for Change- *****Conceptual Framework***

## 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