Mental Health Problems in Incarcerated Delinquents

• NCJ Number: 137937
• Author(s): J Mitchell
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Paper presented at an American Medical Association Work Group on the Health Status of Incarcerated Youth, 1988, Chicago

Annotation

Although mental health professionals have been working with juvenile delinquents for nearly a century, awareness of the degree of neuropsychiatric disorders and psychosocial problems in this population is recent.

Abstract

Research studies conducted over the past 20 years to identify such problems confirm the existence of high rates of affective disturbances, neurological problems, and psychiatric symptomatology, combined with behavior problems and abuse histories. It is clear from the various studies that incarcerated juveniles are at considerable psychiatric risk and that juvenile corrections programs have the strong potential to become de facto psychiatric facilities. The author further concludes that most incarcerated adolescents have significant mental health problems. With the exception of a few serious and chronic offenders, these adolescents are barely distinguishable from inpatients in adolescent psychiatric units. Until recently, these problems have gone undetected by both mental health and corrections professionals. Continued research is needed to identify the problems, but mental health experts must also engage in collaborative efforts with corrections professionals to find noncorrectional alternatives to placement, training staff, and treating mental disorders in the delinquent population. 38 references