The U.S. Department of Justice has called for the creation of trauma-informed juvenile justice systems in order to combat the negative impact of trauma on youth offenders and frontline staff. The extant literature offers relative consensus around the core domains of a trauma-informed juvenile justice system, but much less agreement on the specific practices and policies.
Definition: While similar to that of the adult criminal justice system in many ways—processes include arrest, detainment, petitions, hearings, adjudications, dispositions, placement, probation, and reentry—the juvenile justice process operates according to the premise that youth are fundamentally different from adults, both in terms of level of responsibility and potential for rehabilitation. The primary goals of the juvenile justice system, in addition to maintaining public safety, are skill development, habilitation, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and successful reintegration of youth into the community.
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- “The Justice Department has told Youth Services Insider that the Office of Justice Programs will reduce the Office of Justice Programs’ workforce by nearly 200 positions by October of 2019, a move that could sap staff from the already-small division focused on federal juvenile justice policy.”
- This is the first thorough systematic scan of the U.S. to determine the extent to which these [risk assessment] tools have been adopted across the country (p. 1). Sections of this report address" statewide uniform assessment; layered/regional assessment; locally administered assessment; and design variation in assessment tools.
This article examines the confluence of mental health needs and racial disparities within the juvenile justice system.
- In this article, we examine the prevalence rates of mental health disorders in youth involved in the juvenile justice system, discuss the myriad challenges involved youth face, present differences related to sex and race/ethnicity as well as provide information associated with how best to assist these youths.
- The focus of this literature review is on formal probation and services provided to juveniles on post-adjudication probation, or probation as a disposition.
- This publication covers: risk and needs assessments limitations, definitions, theoretical foundation, two approaches to administering risk/needs assessments: the actuarial approach and the structured professional judgment approach, examples, and outcome evidence.
Mental health screening and assessment is crucial within juvenile correctional facilities (JC).
- This webinar highlights strategies, tools, examples, and best-practice models from across the country that juvenile justice agency managers, staff, and other practitioners may consider adopting to effectively implement family engagement practices and promote positive outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system.
- This literature review focuses on synthesizing descriptions of the role of family engagement for youths involved in the juvenile justice system; research documenting how jurisdictions have attempted enhanced engagement, including policies that encourage family engagement; resources that help families to understand the juvenile justice process; practices such as parent training, family therapy, and family visitation; and outcome evidence for programs with family engagement strategies as key components.
Risk assessment algorithms used in criminal justice settings are often said to introduce “bias”.
- The brief describes areas where the juvenile justice system can improve mental health supports and services for youth involved in or at risk of involvement in the system, along with recommendations for making such improvements.