NCJ Number
196975
Date Published
2002
Length
354 pages
Annotation
This document focuses on juvenile offenders with mental health disorders who reside in residential facilities.
Abstract
An increasing number of youths with mental health disorders enter and remain involved with the juvenile justice system. The exact number is currently unknown. The rate of mental health disorders is higher among youth involved with juvenile justice versus their peers in the general population. A significant number of these youths are currently incarcerated in juvenile justice facilities, such as detention centers, training schools, diagnostic/reception centers, ranches, work camps, boot camps, group homes, and treatment facilities. Essential information is provided regarding the identification and management of juvenile offenders with mental health disorders. Basic information related to the most common psychiatric disorders among juvenile offenders can assist juvenile justice professionals in accurately identifying and referring mentally ill youth to appropriate mental health professionals for evaluation and treatment. Chapter 1 discusses youth with mental health disorders in the juvenile justice system. Chapter 2 deals with the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Chapter 3 describes oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. Chapters 4, and 5 discuss mood disorders, attention deficit disorder. Chapter 6 discusses posttraumatic stress disorder. Chapter 7 details the developmental disorders such as mental retardation. Chapter 8 discusses schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Chapter 9 outlines substance use disorders. Chapter 10 discusses the issue of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. In Chapter 11, suicidal behavior is discussed. Chapter 12 describes self-injurious behavior. Chapter 13 describes screening and assessment of juvenile offenders with mental health disorders. Treatment is discussed in Chapter 14. Special issues, such as minority youth, homosexual youth, head trauma, and staff training are discussed in Chapters 15 and 16. 247 references