Brief 1, March 2015: Why Engage Juvenile Justice in System of Care
Authors
Erin M. Espinosa, Ph.D.
Tegan Henke, MS, LMFT
Jill Farrell, Ph.D.
Denise Sulzbach, JD
Brief 2, March 2015: How to Integrate Juvenile Justice into Systems of Care
Research has consistently found that a majority of youth involved in the juvenile justice system have mental health challenges (e.g., Shufelt &Cocozza, 2006; Teplin et al., 2002; Wasserman et al., 2004). As discussed in the first brief of this series, youth with mental health needs are often funneled into and through the juvenile justice system in an attempt to access care for their needs (Casey Strategic Consulting Group, 2003;National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1999; Skowyra & Cocozza, 2007; U.S.General Accounting Office, 2003; U.S. House of Representatives, 2004);however, the juvenile justice system was not designed to be a de facto mental health system. Indeed, research has shown that involvement in the juvenile justice system has negative impact on child and adolescent development and mental health need is a key indicator to involvement in the justice system (Espinosa, Sorensen, & Lopez, 2013; Hoagwood &Cunningham, 1992; Lyons et al., 1998).
Authors
Erin M. Espinosa, Ph.D.
Tegan Henke, MS, LMFT
Jill Farrell, Ph.D.
Denise Sulzbach, JD