Mental Health Problems and Service Use Among Female Juvenile Offenders: Their Relationship to Criminal History

• NCJ Number: 188683
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 40 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2001 Pages: 549-555
• Author(s): Sheryl H. Kataoka M.D.; Bonnie T. Zima M.D.; Deirdre A. Dupre M.D.; Kathleen A. Moreno M.D.; Xiaowei Yang Ph.D.; James T. McCracken M.D.
• Date Published: May 2001
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the level of mental health problems and lifetime use of specialty mental health services and special education programs among incarcerated female juvenile offenders and how these indexes relate to the offenders' criminal histories.

Abstract

Between 1997 and 1998, 54 female youths incarcerated in California were interviewed using standardized self-report measures of depression and anxiety symptoms and substance use problems. Eighty percent of the youths had symptoms of an emotional disorder or substance use problem, and 63 percent had a history of recidivism. Of those with emotional symptoms or a substance use problem, 51 percent had used specialty mental health services and 58 percent had been in a special education program during their lifetime. In addition, among recidivistic youths, 82 percent had a history of a substance use problem and 47 percent had used specialty mental health services during their lifetime. The article concludes that a substantial proportion of female juvenile offenders merit a mental health evaluation. Interventions for these high-risk youths should include an assessment for substance use disorders because of the association of recidivism and substance use problems in this population. Tables, references