NCJ Number
212218
Journal
The Prison Journal Volume: 85 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2005 Pages: 467-489
Date Published
December 2005
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study estimated the risks and needs of youth referred to several juvenile probation departments in the State of Texas in order to better develop intervention strategies for juvenile offenders.
Abstract
The juvenile justice system as a whole has a unique opportunity to intervene early with a considerable number of youth, many of whom may have numerous and critical unmet criminogenic needs that may contribute to further offending, as well as personal and social problems. However, there is a lack of risk and needs assessment research on large populations of juvenile offenders. There is a compelling need to document the extent to which youths referred to juvenile court evidence any of a range of need, such as mental health, educational, family, or substance abuse. Risk and needs factors play a critical role in preventing crime and recidivism. This study estimated the prevalence of mental health, substance abuse, educational, and family-related needs for youths referred to seven juvenile probation departments in the State of Texas. The three sources of data for the study were demographic and risk/needs assessment data based on the Standard Assessment Tool (SAT), the number of statewide referrals in 2000, and the results of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) Resource Survey 2000. The results indicate a substantial gap between needs and services received. The study found that roughly 40 percent of juveniles with high mental health needs did not receive any treatment services. Similar results were also found for substance abuse. Combining residential and nonresidential treatment, two-thirds of referrals with high substance abuse need did not receive any treatment from juvenile probation. Further research is recommended in an attempt to clarify the needs-services gap along several dimensions which is essential information for policymakers in formulating appropriate and adequate intervention strategies for court-involved youth. Tables, references