NCJ Number
101344
Date Published
1985
Length
48 pages
Annotation
Seventy-five youths in South Carolina institutions who were referred to crisis intervention services in 1984 were the subjects of a study that aimed to identify the characteristics of high-risk youths.
Abstract
The 75 youths were involved in 105 crisis episodes, primarily suicide attempts or threats or self-damaging behaviors. The study population resembled the total institutional population in gender and age. Most were males aged 15-16. However, 66 percent of the subjects and only 44 percent of the general population were white. The study's subjects were also more likely to have special needs. The majority of the subjects had experienced two or more prior court referrals and two or more adjudications. The 18 youths who had repeated crisis episodes were more distinct from the general population in that they had more prior court involvements, more institutional placements, and more special needs. Crisis incidents tended to occur during the first month of incarceration and in special units rather than open units. However, the underlying problems associated with the crisis incidents were not unusual. The psychological unit tended to make nonspecific suggestions for monitoring behavior after crisis incidents. Specific protocols are needed to delineate the observation and placements these youths need. Figures, case profiles, and appended tables.