Assessing the Mental Health Status of Youth in Juvenile Justice Settings

Abstract

Access OJJDP publications online at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ojjdp with inadequate psychometrics, the failure to consider comorbidity (i.e., co-occurring conditions), problems with identifying sample characteristics, and a lack of information regarding when the assessments were conducted. They note that previous studies often did not define the timeframe for symptoms. However, distinguishing between lifetime and current symptoms is important not only for determining the prevalence of disorders but also in planning for immediate service needs.

Race, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Disorders as Predictors of Juvenile Court Outcomes: Do They Vary By Gender?

“…For example, Teplin et al (2002) found no significant differences in the proportion of males (51%) compared to females (47%) in meeting criteria for a substance use disorder. Similarly, Wasserman et al (2004) found no significant differences between males (26%) and females (22%) in their sample of probation-involved youth. Conversely, Timmons-Mitchell et al (1997) found that a higher proportion of males (88%) had a substance use disorder than did females (56%) in their sample of incarcerated youth.…”

“…Substance use and mental health disorders are widespread among youth involved in the juvenile justice system, affecting between 40 and 70% of this population (Shufelt and Cocozza 2006;Teplin et al 2006;Timmons-Mitchell et al 1997;Wasserman et al 2004). Prevalence estimates suggest that one of out every five youth involved in the juvenile justice system has serious mental health problems C. L. Welch-Brewer .…”

“…The range of mental health disorders and difficulties includes depression, attention and hyperactivity, behavioral control, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar, and trauma. Disruptive disorders (including conduct, attention-deficit hyperactivity and oppositional defiant) and substance use disorders are the most commonly diagnosed disorders among males and females in the juvenile justice system (Shufelt and Cocozza 2006;Teplin et al 2006;TimmonsMitchell et al 1997;Wasserman et al 2004).…”

Mental Health and the Juvenile Justice System: Issues Related to Treatment and Rehabilitation

“…Asking juveniles in detention facilities about prior mental health issues and medication use is important because frequently used screening instruments (e.g., MAYSI-2) do not access this information. Wasserman, Ko, and McReynolds (2004) suggested best practices for clinical assessment in juvenile justice facilities which included use of multiple methods of mental health assessment along with information from multiple informants to obtain a thorough understanding of the detainee. For this reason, input from parents/caregivers, current or former teachers, and any other significant individual who has dealt with the individual is important.…”

An Analysis of Oregon Youth Authority Populations: Who Receives Treatment and What Factors Influence Allocation of Treatment Resources?

“…During this time, studies examining screening and identification, assessment, and treatment outcomes have offered valuable information to those in the field. As previously discussed, the prevalence level for a diagnosable mental health disorder among all youth in the JJS is estimated to be as high as sixty-five to seventy percent (Shufelt & Cocozza, 2006;Teplin, Abram, McClelland, Dulcan, & Mericle, 2002;Wasserman & McReynolds, 2004). Furthermore, youth in the JJS experience mental health disorders at a rate more than three times higher than youth in the general population (Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Collaboration for Change, 2014).…”