New Report Builds the Case for Actions to Better Serve Youth With Mental Health Issues in the Juvenile Justice System

BERKELEY, Calif., May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- It is estimated that between 40 to 70 percent of youth in California's juvenile justice system have some mental health disorder or illness and the number is steadily increasing.  The deficiencies of the system to address the needs of this population have been well documented in studies and media stories.  Competing budget priorities at the state and local levels continue to exacerbate the problem.

A new report by the Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice (BCCJ), a research and policy institute at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, calls for definitions, tools, and investment in proven programs.  Mental Health Issues in California's Juvenile Justice System highlights research and data illustrating the challenges affecting the ability of frontline providers to adequately serve these youth and their families.

"The courts have decided that youth under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court have a right to treatment and rehabilitation," noted Barry Krisberg, former president of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency and current distinguished senior fellow and lecturer-in-residence at Berkeley Law.  He also served on the advisory board for this report.  "In this time of shrinking resources, we must build consensus among leaders and stakeholders who have a vested interest in the outcomes of these youth.  BCCJ was able to bring us to together to discuss and agree on how to use these limited resources effectively."

The report recommends the following practical strategies to help the state's juvenile justice system be more effective at providing services and support to youth with mental health issues:

• Create universal, functional definitions of mental health linking DSM-IV diagnoses with treatment options across all systems serving youth.
• Implement validated, culturally competent, and gender-responsive mental health screening and assessment instruments.
• Administer treatment programs that are outcome-based and incorporate successful core elements.
• Utilize inter-agency, inter-county, and public/private collaboration to improve delivery of mental health services.

"When other social safety nets fail to provide treatment and resources to youth with mental illness, the juvenile justice system is where many of these youth end up," said Andrea Russi, executive director of BCCJ.  "Our research and recommendations, informed by a diverse group of key leaders in the state, make the case for smart solutions that help meet the needs of this vulnerable population."

Mental Health Issues in California's Juvenile Justice System is the first report in the Juvenile Justice Policy Brief series, funded by The California Endowment to address the critical issues facing California's juvenile justice system today.  Download the report here.

Based at the UC Berkeley School of Law, the Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice's mission is to enhance public safety and foster a fair and accountable justice system through research, analysis, and collaboration.  For more information, visit http://www.law.berkeley.edu/bccj.htm.

SOURCE Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice