NCJ Number
168600
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 23 Issue: 1/2 Dated: (1996) Pages: 11-22
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Questionnaires were mailed to 49 States and the District of Columbia to investigate various systemic approaches and solutions used by secure youth facilities to address residents' self- injurious behavior.
Abstract
A total of 21 surveys were returned, producing a 42-percent response rate. Of the total number of residents served by those States reporting, 90 percent were male and 10 percent female. Terms for which definitions were provided to assist in responding to the questionnaire included suicide attempt, self-injurious behavior, and serious self-mutilation. The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions that inquired as to the prevalence of self-injurious behavior, the percentage of self-injurious residents judged to be suicidal, the number and age range of residents served, the prevalence of serious self-mutilating incidents, the typical number of inflictions per resident, age range of mutilating residents, methods used for stabilization/treatment, and housing units available. The survey also focused on the existence of official agreements between the Department of Youth Services and Department of Mental Health and their working relationships when responsibility for treatment must be assigned, as well as the Departments' self-ratings of their practices in response to self-mutilating residents. Survey findings show varied frequencies of self-harming behavior among the juvenile facility populations, as well as differential perceptions of the resident's intent. The survey results suggest that, contrary to the majority of existing practices, those departments that have assumed responsibility for stabilizing and treating mutilating adolescents as a distinct group express greater satisfaction with their system's approach. 2 tables and 34 references