Justice-involved Adolescents Research Articles

Teaching Justice-Involved Adolescents Basic Financial Literacy Skills: A Preliminary Investigation

Teaching Justice-Involved Adolescents Basic Financial Literacy Skills: A Preliminary Investigation

Co-Occurring Disorders and Engagement in Behavioral Health Treatment Among Justice-Involved Adolescents

Our study examined co-occurring substance use and major depressive disorders among justice-involved adolescents to inform behavioral health services planning within U.S. criminal justice systems. We used data from the 2015–2017 administrations of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey of non-institutionalized U.S. individuals aged 12 and older, to yield a national sample of 41,579 adolescents. Rates of co-occurring disorders were 4.5 times higher among justice-involved adolescents than non-justice-involved adolescents, with 6.3% of justice-involved adolescents meeting criteria for co-occurring disorders in the past year compared to 1.2% of non-justice-involved adolescents. Justice involvement was associated with greater substance use treatment but not mental health treatment. High rates of co-occurring disorders among justice-involved adolescents suggest the criminal justice system to be a unique opportunity for treatment engagement. The integrated mental health and substance use treatment needs of justice-involved adolescents with co-occurring disorders should be prioritized.

Association Between Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychopathic Traits Among Justice-Involved Adolescents.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health problem and is highly prevalent among justice-involved populations. Pediatric TBI is linked with long-term negative outcomes and is correlated with substance use, criminal behavior, psychiatric disorders, and disruptions in neurocognition. These same TBI correlates are evident among youth with psychopathic traits. Given ongoing neurobiological and social development in adolescence, understanding the link between psychopathic traits and TBI in justice-involved youth is critical. A sample of 263 male adolescents were recruited from a maximum-security juvenile justice facility. Using a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework, measurement invariance of psychopathic traits (TBI ±) was tested, and psychopathy scores were accounted for in terms of TBI variables (severity, age of first TBI, total number), participant's age, IQ, substance use, and internalizing psychopathology. There was evidence of strong invariance across TBI status and those with TBI had higher affective and impulsive lifestyle psychopathic traits than adolescents without TBI. The SEM indicated that TBI severity was associated with lower IQ scores, which in turn were associated with increased lifestyle/antisocial (Factor 2) psychopathic traits. Total number of TBIs was associated with higher substance use, which was associated with both increased interpersonal/affective (Factor 1) and Factor 2 psychopathic traits. These TBI variables also had indirect associations with psychopathic traits through IQ and substance use. The findings indicate that TBI is associated with psychopathic traits and suggest that disturbances in cognition and substance use may be treatment targets for youth with TBI and psychopathic traits.

Reflections on Recidivism and Relapse Prevention among Italian Justice-Involved Juveniles: A General Overview

Research interprets antisocial and illegal behavior among juveniles as an expression of needs, as a conscious action, or as an adherence to family, cultural, and social contexts. Professionals and researchers interested in the topic could benefit from reflections and insights on relapse prevention among justice-involved juveniles (JIJs). In light of these considerations, we investigated the criminal conduct of JIJs, identifying their background, individual characteristics, and the educational and rehabilitative programs of the 17 Italian youth detention centers from a sample of 234 JIJs (214 males and 20 females, 14–25 years old). The sample completed the following questionnaires: the high-risk situation checklist, deviant behavior questionnaire (DBQ), and the neighborhood perception questionnaire (NPQ). The study aims to provide a general overview of the justice-involved adolescents and young adults in Italian youth detention centers, focusing on perpetrator profiles, family systems and the quality of life in the Italian youth detention centers. To achieve our goals, we investigated their occupations and education, the perceived quality of life in their neighborhoods, the use of drugs, and the tendency to commit illegal or antisocial behaviors before incarceration. The study also explored the awareness related to the personal perception of the risk factors in relapse, with the aim of stimulating reflections on behavior and crime-related cognitions to promote relapse prevention. We discuss the main findings and future implications.

Psychotropic medication prescribing in male juvenile justice facilities

This study examined medical files for former residents of six juvenile residential facilities. A review of medical files for 223 male, justice-involved adolescents revealed that 139 (62.33 %) received one or more psychotropic medications during at least one of their stays. Of the residents who received at least one medication (n = 139), prescribers most often prescribed antidepressants (74.8 %), antipsychotics (50.4 %), and stimulants (43.32 %). The authors assessed the predicting and maintaining variables that impacted psychotropic medication use as a treatment for adolescents with mental health concerns. Receiving medication prior to intake increased the likelihood of a resident receiving psychotropic medication. Additionally, older adolescents had a decreased likelihood of receiving psychotropic medication. Surprisingly, only risk score significantly impacted the continuation of medication at discharge. Overall, residents received less medication at discharge when compared to medication count at intake. Furthermore, additional comparisons between the residents in this study and those of Anderson et al. (2022) revealed no prescribing differences for residents who did or did not receive additional psychotherapeutic services.

Interpersonal Violence, Racial Discrimination, and Mental Health Symptoms Among Adolescents of Color in the Juvenile-Justice System.

The current study examined how interpersonal racial discrimination experiences operate together with other forms of interpersonal violence to contribute to mental health symptoms among justice-involved adolescents of color. Participants were 118 justice-involved adolescents of color aged 14 to 17 (M = 15.77, SD = 1.08; 52.5% male; 77.1% Black/African American) and their mothers. At baseline, adolescents reported on experiences of interpersonal racial discrimination, harsh parenting, teen dating violence, and exposure to interparental physical intimate partner violence. At baseline and the 3-month follow-up assessment, adolescents reported on trauma symptoms, and adolescents and their mothers reported on the adolescents' externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Multivariate multilevel modeling results indicated that interpersonal racial discrimination experiences contributed additively to adolescent mental health symptoms at both the baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments, after accounting for exposure to other forms of interpersonal violence. The current findings highlight the importance of considering adolescents' experiences of interpersonal racial discrimination, together with other forms of interpersonal violence, in work focused on understanding the mental health symptoms of justice-involved adolescents of color.

Lovesick: Romantic relationships linked to opioid misuse among juveniles

Opioid misuse (OM) is a major public health problem that is more prevalent and devastating among correctional populations, especially justice-involved adolescents (JIA). Adolescence is a critical developmental period associated with the onset of romantic relationships, substance misuse and delinquency. Social bonding theory submits that quality relationships reduce delinquency. However, prior research has not yet examined the association between relationships and OM among JIA. Adopting social bonding theory, the current study investigates two hypotheses: (H1) JIA in romantic relationships will have a lower risk for misuse relative to those not in relationships, and (H2) JIA with prosocial partners will have a lower risk for OM than those with delinquent partners. Data on 79,960 JIA from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice were examined. OM was operationalized by past 30-day illicit or nonmedical misuse determined by urine analysis or self-disclosure. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were estimated while adjusting for covariates. Contrary to H1, relationships had higher risk for OM. Compared to JIA who were not in a romantic relationship, having a delinquent partner was associated with 2.48 higher odds of OM and having a prosocial partner was associated with 1.29 times higher odds. Intervention efforts that target youth may benefit from adopting peer models that promote prosocial relationships.

Prosocial attributes relate to lower recidivism in justice-involved youth: preliminary evidence using a novel measure of prosocial functioning

PurposeThough prosocial attributes are linked to positive outcomes among justice-involved adolescents and are a mainstay of numerous interventions, few measures have been specifically designed to evaluate prosocial functioning within this population. Although multiple instruments measuring aspects of prosocial behavior exist, these instruments were not designed to measure prosocial behaviors among youth in juvenile justice settings. This study aims to provide a preliminary validation of a new measure of prosocial attributes (the Prosocial Status Inventory – PSI), which was designed to comprehensively evaluate in greater depth the prosocial functioning of urban, justice-involved youth.Design/methodology/approachYouth (n = 51) were recruited as part of a larger study and were participants in a community-based mentoring program in a large, urban county in the Southern USA. Youth completed the PSI at baseline prior to their participation in the community-based mentoring program. The authors obtained follow-up data on recidivism from the county juvenile justice department.FindingsPSI scores were positively related to a lower rate of recidivism and a decrease in offending frequency over a 12-month follow-up period.Originality/valueThe current findings complement previous work, suggesting that prosocial attributes are measurable and related to important outcomes among justice-involved youth and support the utility of strengths-based treatment approaches. Moreover, it provides preliminary evidence of the utility of a new self-report measure to assess these traits within a juvenile justice population.

Impact of Family, Neighborhood, and Schools on Behavioral Health Needs of Justice-Involved Latinx Adolescents.

Latinx adolescents are overrepresented in the justice system and have high untreated behavioral health needs. We examined the family as well as promotive and inhibitive environments (i.e., neighborhood and school) and their associations on behavioral health among 181 first-time justice-involved Latinx adolescents. Results showed that more optimal caregiver-adolescent attachment was associated with fewer behavioral health needs; more negative caregiver-adolescent communication with greater behavioral health needs. Increased neighborhood disadvantage and negative school interactions served as inhibitive environments and were associated with greater behavioral health needs. Moderation analyses indicated that negative communication was associated with greater behavioral health needs among dyads with large acculturation differences but not for dyads close in acculturation. Findings underscore the need to assess the family relationships and communication, promotive/inhibitive environments, and acculturation differences when determining how to meet behavioral health needs among justice-involved Latinx adolescents.

Traumatic Events as Risk Factors for PTSD and Suicidal Ideation: A Nine-Year Study of Justice-Involved Adolescents

ABSTRACT Traumatic events are a serious public health concern, linked cross-sectionally and longitudinally with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation (SI). While much research has focused on broadly defined traumatic events as they relate to PTSD and SI, fewer projects have investigated the disparate associations that specific traumatic events have with PTSD and SI. In this study of 1,829 adolescents held at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (measured during adolescence and again nine years later during adulthood), the cross-sectional and prospective links between various traumatic events (i.e. being physically assaulted, threatened with a weapon, sexually assaulted, in a serious accident, seeing someone be killed, experiencing a natural disaster, seeing a dead body, or being forced to fight), PTSD symptoms, and SI were investigated. Findings indicate that every traumatic event endorsed at baseline was cross-sectionally associated with increased PTSD symptoms and SI. Experiencing sexual assault or a serious accident during adolescence predicted greater SI at follow-up. Moreover, the positive association between PTSD symptoms at baseline and SI at follow-up was stronger among individuals who experienced sexual assault or a serious accident versus those who were not trauma exposed. Implications for justice-involved adolescents are discussed.

The Structured Trauma-Related Experiences and Symptoms Screener (STRESS): Assessing factor structure and clinical utility in a juvenile justice sample.

High prevalence of traumatic event exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among justice-involved adolescents has necessitated the use of trauma screening in juvenile justice settings. The present study explored the psychometric properties, factor structure, and construct validity of a trauma screen, the Structured Trauma-Related Experiences and Symptoms Screener (STRESS), in a detained adolescent sample. Prior to the current study, psychometric characteristics of the STRESS were evaluated only in a child welfare sample (Grasso et al., 2015). The sample consisted of 132 adolescents in secure detention facilities in a southeastern state. Participants were included in the study if they engaged in the mental health screening process at intake and a follow-up assessment process with facility staff psychologists. Data consisted of de-identified, archival records. The STRESS total symptom and 4 criterion symptom count scores demonstrated high internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the STRESS had excellent fit with the DSM-5 four-factor PTSD model. Equally strong evidence was found for a higher order PTSD model, thus reinforcing the use of both STRESS PTSD total and criterion symptom count scores with justice-involved adolescents. Additionally, preliminary evidence of convergent and discriminant validity was supported. Findings support the STRESS as a reliable and valid trauma screen for use with detained adolescents. Results suggest that both STRESS total symptom and criterion symptom count scores have clinical utility for intake-level mental health decisions in juvenile detention settings. Implications for expanding use of the STRESS to inform appropriate interventions for justice-involved adolescents are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The bidirectional effects of antisocial behavior, anxiety, and trauma exposure: Implications for our understanding of the development of callous–unemotional traits.

The association of anxiety and trauma with antisocial behavior in children and adolescents has long been the focus of research, and more recently this area of research has become critical to theories of the development of callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Research suggests those with elevated CU traits and anxiety (i.e., secondary CU variant) seem to show more severe externalizing behaviors and are more likely to show histories of trauma, compared to those with elevated CU and low anxiety (i.e., primary CU variant). These findings have typically been interpreted as being indicative of distinct etiological pathways to the development of CU traits. We test an alternative explanation that the higher rates of anxiety and trauma exposure in some youth with elevated CU traits are largely a consequence of their higher levels of antisocial behavior. The current study recruited a sample of 1,216 justice-involved adolescents (Mage = 15.28, SD = 1.28) from three distinct regions of the United States, who were assessed at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 60 months following their first arrest. Using random-intercept cross-lagged models, both antisocial behavior and CU traits predicted changes in future anxiety and CU traits predicted increases in future victimization. Further, using longitudinal parallel mediation models, antisocial and aggressive behavior largely accounted for the predictive association between CU traits and anxiety and CU traits and victimization. These results support a model in which anxiety and trauma histories may be a marker of the severity of antisocial behavior displayed by youth with elevated CU traits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Adverse Childhood Experiences, sexual debut and substance use among Black justice-involved youth: The imperative of trauma-informed sexuality education

The purpose of this study is to determine how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) influence the age of sexual debut and the age of substance use initiation among a sample of Black justice-involved youth. A total of 368 Black adolescents (52.7 % female, 11–17 years of age) arrested and detained in Cook County, IL completed assessments as part of the Northwestern Juvenile Project. At baseline, adolescents self-reported sexual debut, substance use initiation (cannabis/marijuana and alcohol), and history of ACEs. Data were analyzed using multivariate path analyses to examine the effects of ACEs on sexual debut, substance use initiation, and engagement in sex under the influence. Age and gender were used as covariates. Results indicate that most participants (97 %) experienced at least one adverse childhood experience and the majority (82 %) reported a very early (11–12 years) or early sexual debut (13–14 years). More ACEs were significantly related to higher odds of having earlier sexual debut (OR = 1.23, p < 0.001), alcohol use initiation (OR = 1.31, p < 0.01), and cannabis use initiation (OR = 1.23, p < 0.01) after controlling for age and gender. ACEs had a significantly indirect effect on having sex under the influence only through sexual debut (β = 0.08, 95 % CI: 0.03, 0.17) and cannabis use initiation (β = 0.11, 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.25). Findings imply that the sexual health decision-making of justice-involved adolescents can better be supported through trauma-informed sexuality education that gives primacy to acknowledging their experiences with trauma as a critical part of their rehabilitative treatment. This study on ACEs among Black justice-involved youth documents prevalent adversity that predicts early sexual debut, substance use initiation, and sex under the influence. Findings imply trauma-informed sexuality education as a viable option for justice-involved youth to learn enhanced skills for informed sexual health decision-making to reduce negative sexual health outcomes.

Sexually transmissible infections (STI) and HIV testing and diagnosis among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adolescents in contact with the Australian justice system: a cross-sectional study.

It is unclear what factors are associated with sexually transmissible infections (STI) and HIV testing and diagnosis among justice-involved adolescents, and if these differ for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples. A cross-sectional survey of 465 justice-involved adolescents (aged 14-17years) from Australia was conducted between 2016 and 2018. Participants were asked about sexual behaviours, STI/HIV knowledge, and prior STI diagnoses and testing. Approximately 38% (n =130) of those sexually active had ever been screened for STI/HIV and 17.8% (n =23) had been diagnosed with an STI. No participant reported living with HIV. For Aboriginal participants, being male (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3-10.1) and having under three sexual partners in the past 12months (aOR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.0) was associated with never having had an STI/HIV test. For non-Aboriginal participants, being male (aOR 2.7, 95%CI 1.2-5.7), single (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.9), attending school (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.1), not having sought sexual health information (aOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.8), and having a lower STI/HIV knowledge score (aOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-5.0) were associated with never having had an STI/HIV test. Factors associated with STI diagnosis were non-heterosexual sexual orientation (aOR 5.6, 95% CI 1.1-28.2), transactional sex (aOR 11.2, 95% CI 3.0-41.3), and having sought sexual health information (aOR 3.5, 95% CI 1.0-12.5). Males, particularly Aboriginal male adolescents, should be engaged with sexual health promotion and testing services as soon as they come into contact with the justice system. Approaches should consider different cultural, gender and sexual orientations.

Vocally-Encoded Emotional Arousal as a Marker of Callous-Unemotional Traits in a Sample of Justice-Involved Adolescents.

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are associated with severe and persistent juvenile offending. CU traits are also associated with dampened emotional arousal, which suggests that fundamental frequency (f0), a measure of vocally-encoded emotional arousal, may serve as an accessible psychophysiological marker of CU traits in youth. This study investigated the associations between f0 range measured during an emotionally evocative task, CU traits, and emotion dysregulation in a mixed-gender sample of 168 justice-involved youth. For boys, after controlling for covariates, wider f0 range-indicating greater emotional arousal-was negatively associated with CU traits and positively associated with emotion dysregulation. For girls, no significant associations with f0 range emerged; however, CU traits were positively associated with emotion dysregulation. Findings suggest that f0 range may serve as a valid indicator of CU traits in JJ-involved boys, and that detained boys and girls with high CU traits are characterized by different profiles of emotion dysregulation.

The nexus between gender, parental supervision, and opioid misuse among justice-involved adolescents.

Justice-involved adolescents (JIA) are at higher risk for opioid misuse (OM) and opioid-related overdose than nonoffending adolescents. Untreated OM can lead to severe consequences (e.g., trauma), which may be harsher for female JIA. Therefore, examining risk and protective factors, such as parental supervision, is essential to identify factors that may impact OM. The current study used a statewide, cross-sectional dataset including 79,960 JIA from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Stratified logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results indicated that JIA who experienced sporadic or inadequate supervision had 2.14 and 3.54 higher odds, respectively, of misusing opioids compared to JIA who experienced consistent supervision. Female JIA who experienced sporadic or inadequate supervision had 2.23 and 3.70 higher odds, respectively, of misusing opioids. Results suggest parental supervision is an important protective factor that should be considered in developing prevention and treatment efforts that serve JIA who misuse opioids, especially females.

Using Social Media to Engage Justice-Involved Young Adults in Digital Health Interventions for Substance Use: Pilot Feasibility Survey Study.

Young adults involved in the justice system have high rates of substance use disorders and low rates of treatment engagement. Most justice-involved young adults are supervised in the community-not incarcerated in jail or prison-where they have ongoing access to substances and experience significant barriers to care. When they do engage in treatment, they tend to have worse outcomes than justice-involved adolescents and older adults. Despite the need to develop targeted treatments, there are unique challenges in recruiting this population into clinical research. Digital health technology offers many novel avenues for recruiting justice-involved young adults into clinical research studies and disseminating substance use disorder treatments to justice-involved young adults. Because the vast majority of young adults regularly use one or more social media platforms, social media may offer a cost-effective and efficient way to achieve these goals. This study aimed to describe the process and feasibility of using social media platforms (Facebook and Reddit) to recruit justice-involved young adults into clinical research. Justice-involved young adults recruited from these platforms completed a survey assessing the acceptability of digital health interventions to address substance use in this population. Justice-involved young adults (aged 18-24 years) were recruited through paid advertisements placed on Facebook and Reddit. Participants responded to a web-based survey focused on their substance use, treatment use history, and acceptability of various digital health interventions focused on substance use. A national sample of justice-involved young adults were successfully enrolled and completed the survey (N=131). Participants were racially diverse (8/131, 6.1% American Indian individuals; 27/131, 20.6% Asian individuals; 23/131, 17.6% Black individuals; 26/131, 19.8% Latinx individuals; 8/131, 6.1% Pacific Islander individuals; 49/131, 37.4% White individuals; and 2/131, 1.5% individuals who identified as "other" race and ethnicity). Advertisements were cost-effective (US $0.66 per click on Facebook and US $0.47 per click on Reddit). More than half (72/131, 54.9%) of the participants were on probation or parole in the past year and reported hazardous alcohol (54/131, 51.9%) or drug (66/131, 57.4%) use. Most of the participants (103/131, 78.6%) were not currently participating in substance use treatment. Nearly two-third (82/131, 62.6%) of the participants were willing to participate in one or more hypothetical digital health interventions. Social media is a feasible and cost-effective method for reaching justice-involved young adults to participate in substance use research trials. With limited budgets, researchers can reach a broad audience, many of whom could benefit from treatment but are not currently engaged in care. Proposed digital health interventions focusing on reducing substance use, such as private Facebook groups, SMS text message-based appointment reminders, and coaching, had high acceptability. Future work will build on these findings to develop substance use treatment interventions for this population.

The reciprocal relations between well-being and maternal and peer warmth in adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system.

Although justice system involvement increases the risk of negative outcomes for adolescents, many justice-involved youth desist from crime as adults (Sampson & Laub, 2005). There are few studies examining predictors of positive development in justice-involved adolescents. In the current study, we assess the influence of maternal and peer warmth on the development of well-being in adolescents involved in the US justice system over the course of 5years. Participants included 1216 adolescent males who experienced their first arrest. Interviews were given every year for 5 years. Well-being was measured using the EPOCH questionnaire (Kern et al., 2016) and relationship warmth was measured using a scale adapted from Conger et al. (1994). Hypotheses were tested using latent curve models with structured residuals. Baseline levels of well-being were associated with maternal (β = 0.49, p < .001) and peer warmth, β = 0.52, p < .001. When an individual's maternal warmth was higher than predicted given their maternal warmth trajectory, their subsequent well-being was higher than expected given their well-being trajectory, b = 0.07, p < .001. When an individual's peer warmth was higher than predicted, their subsequent well-being was higher than expected, b = 0.06, p < .001. These relations were reciprocal, such that well-being also predicted increased maternal and peer warmth. These findings suggest that increasing maternal or peer warmth may have cascading effects on the well-being of justice-involved adolescents. Interventions for justice-involved youth may benefit from targeting factors that increase positive development for these youth.

Examining Gender Differences in the Relationship Between School Bonding and Opioid Misuse Among Justice-Involved Adolescents.

Justice-involved adolescents (JIAs) have an increased risk for opioid use disorder and overdose related to opioid misuse (OM). Consequences of untreated OM include recidivism and poor educational outcomes, which can be harsher for female JIA. Therefore, identifying relevant factors and settings that reduce the risk for OM is critical. Schools are a central institution in adolescent development. Drawing on social control theory, JIA with higher levels of school bonding was hypothesized to attenuate risk for OM. Cross-sectional data on 79,960 JIA from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice were examined. Multivariate and stratified logistic regression analyses were employed. On average, for every one-unit increase in school bonding, JIA had 22%, female JIA had 23%, and male JIA had 22% lower odds of OM. Results suggest school bonding and the school context should be considered in treatment and how this setting may impact OM intervention outcomes among JIA.

Juvenile Justice, Technology and Family Separation: A Call to Prioritize Access to Family-Based Telehealth Treatment for Justice-Involved Adolescents' Mental Health and Well-Being.

Separating children from families has deleterious effects on children's mental health and well-being, which is highly relevant for youth in juvenile detention and other out-of-home residential placements. Despite growth in the evidence of family-based interventions in mitigating adverse behavioral health outcomes for justice involved adolescents (JIA), gaps remain in intervention dissemination for JIA; this particularly true for those leveraging digital health technologies, a need that has intensified with the COVID-19 pandemic. Use of digital health technologies for JIAs is pressing to address structural barriers in maintaining JIA-family connections, but also to improve treatment access for detained JIAs. Court systems' capacity to support use of digital health tools, such as telehealth, appear promising. Data on the use of tele-conferencing in U.S. juvenile and family courts were collected from 456 juvenile justice professionals as part of a larger study on judicial decision making. Results suggest overwhelming adoption of video-conferencing for court hearings with only 40% of respondents reporting family court use prior to the onset of COVID-19, but majority (91%) now reporting its routine use. Youth participate from a range of settings, including detention, other residential placement, community-based behavioral health and in-home settings. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a shift in the uptake of video-conferencing platforms that could hold promise for future larger scale use across the juvenile justice system. Findings underscore feasibility and acceptability of technology requirements in key settings that should be leveraged for broad scale implementation of empirically supported family-based interventions to advance behavioral health equity for JIA.