Annually, over 1 million youth are involved in the American juvenile justice system. They experience more mental illness, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted infections than their non-adjudicated peers. However, few evidence-based interventions exist to address these problems. Led by Geri Donenberg, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC), a randomized trial called PHAT Life: Preventing HIV/AIDS Among Teens, […]
Correctional Facility
Collaboration of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health: Advancing New and Proven Models
While important strides have been made to prevent people with behavioral health disorders from entering the criminal justice system, the number continues to be excessive and, too often, unnecessary. The State of Maryland is among many jurisdictions struggling to find and implement alternatives to incarceration. The State struggles to reduce recidivism, too, by providing support […]
Nevada’s Statewide Approach to Reducing Recidivism and Improving Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
As a result of participating in Improving Outcomes for Youth: A Statewide Juvenile Justice Initiative (IOYouth), Nevada passed legislation that supports the adoption and implementation of key policy and practice changes to the state’s juvenile justice system. State and local leaders across the country have made concerted efforts to scale back juvenile incarceration, and their […]
Positive Youth Development in Juvenile Facilities Toolkit
The Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators (CJCA) has developed a Positive Youth Development Toolkit. This resource is designed to help agencies, organizations, and stakeholders improve services, programs, and outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The toolkit is based on recommendations shared at the 2015 CJCA Leadership Institute that included The Office of […]
Mi Hermana’s Keeper: A Toolkit of Promising Practices for Juvenile Justice Prevention Programs Supporting Latina Youth
This toolkit includes a literature review of why system-involved Latina youth need support, nine program- and system-level recommendations, an action checklist, and feedback from Latina youth, caregivers, and stakeholders. This resource was developed based on a study of the Family Keys Program, an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Best Practice Model that Southwest […]
Indicators of Mental Health Problems Reported by Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2011-12
Only one-third of inmates in the U.S. with mental-health problems receive treatment, according to a new Department of Justice report released Thursday. In federal prisons, about half of those who need treatment get it, DOJ found. Inmates are five times as likely to have a mental-health problem than the general U.S. population. The report, by […]