Characteristics of Children and Adolescents in a Psychiatric Hospital and a Corrections Facility

• NCJ Number: 132119
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 29 Issue: 6 Dated: (1990) Pages: 909-913
• Author(s): R Cohen; D X Parmelee; L Irwin; J R Weisz; P Howard; P Purcell; A M Best
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): 88-038
• Sponsoring Agency: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A sample of 32 adolescents admitted to a Virginia State psychiatric hospital for children and 38 adolescents placed in a corrections facility for conviction on nonstatus offenses was studied to determine whether the two groups differed in their mental health status or in their demographic characteristics.

Abstract

Using the Child Behavior Checklist scores for social competence and total problems, the authors found few differences in the demographic, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of the two groups. While the scores for both groups were quite high and similar, white children scored significantly worse than black children in internalizing, externalizing, and total problems in the correctional setting, but not in the psychiatric hospital. Race was the only predictor of placement. Future research should focus on the mental health needs of adolescents in nonmental health settings and the procedures by which adolescents are assigned to service settings. 2 tables and 14 references (Author abstract modified)