Mental Health Service Needs of Juvenile Offenders: A Comparison of Detention, Incarceration, and Treatment Settings

Abstract

Juvenile arrests have increased dramatically in recent years and emerging evidence suggests that youth involved in juvenile justice have significant mental health needs. In this study, we examined 473 youth in multiple counties from 3 settings: community settings (detention-petition), correctional settings, and residential treatment settings. Using the Childhood Severity of Psychiatric Illness Scale (Lyons, 1998), the mental health needs of youth in each of these settings was ascertained and compared. Results suggest an overall high rate of mental health needs, including serious emotional disorders. Youth in institutional settings had higher levels of need than those in the community. Youth with behavioral problems were more likely to be incarcerated, whereas youth with emotional problems were more likely sent to residential treatment facilities. Prior treatment experiences, both in mental health and substance abuse treatment, were strongly related to incarceration. Other clinical and demographic variable...