NCJ Number
67952
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES OF UTAH'S SELF-CONTAINED JUVENILE COURT MENTAL HEALH UNIT, WHICH USES COURT AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO PROVIDE PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
JUVENILE COURT SYSTEMS RARELY USED ANY EXTENDED CONSULTATION FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING EMPHASIS ON A PREVENTIVE ORIENTATION, PRODUCED GROWING INTEREST IN THIS AREA. IN SALT LAKE CITY, THE DEVELOPMENT IN 1969 OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEEN THE JUVENILE COURT AND THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM RESULTED IN AN INHOUSE STAFF OF SEVEN MENTAL HEALTH PERSONNEL PROVIDING A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES. THE JUVENILE COURT IS PART OF A STATEWIDE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM WHICH IS NOTED FOR ITS USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION AND DECENTRALIZED PROBATION SERVICES. THE STATE'S COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1961. MENTAL HEALTH STAFF'S INCREASING INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COURT LED TO THE FORMATION OF THE PRESENT UNIT. THE UNIT OFFERS CONSULTATION, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY THERAPY. REFERRALS ARE ACCEPTED FROM THE JUDGES, REFEREE, INTAKE AND PROBATION STAFF, DETENTION CENTER, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE DIVISIONS OF THE COURT. TREATMENT SERVICES INCLUDE A DRUG SCHOOL, ALCOHOL SCHOOL, AND FAMILY CRISIS COUNSELING PROGRAM. IN ALL THREE PROGRAMS, RECIDIVISM HAS BEEN REDUCED BY ABOUT 50 PERCENT, COMPARED TO TOTAL RATES FOR THE COURT. THE SUCCESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COURT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS DUE TO SHARED ATTITUDES, THE OFFERING OF SERVICES ON THE FIRST OFFENSE, AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE FAMILY UNIT. THE SYSTEM IS A SUCCESSFUL ONE AND COULD BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE. (CFW)