Mental Health Referrals Reduce Recidivism in First-Time Juvenile Offenders, But How Do We Determine Who is Referred?
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| Title: | Mental Health Referrals Reduce Recidivism in First-Time Juvenile Offenders, But How Do We Determine Who is Referred? |
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| Authors: | Zeola, Michael, Guina, Jeffrey, Nahhas, Ramzi |
| Source: | Psychiatric Quarterly. Mar2017, Vol. 88 Issue 1, p167-183. 17p. 5 Charts, 2 Graphs. |
| Subjects: | Psychiatric research, Juvenile delinquency, Mental health laws, Recidivism, Adolescent psychology |
| Abstract: | While psychiatric disorders are common among juvenile delinquents, many mental health problems go undetected, increasing the likelihood for persistent difficulties. This is the first known study to examine mental health referral rates and recidivism in the juvenile justice system. In addition to the study, we review juvenile justice mental health screening to improve detection and treatment. Juvenile criminal records in conjunction with behavioral health screenings were analyzed to determine differences in referrals and recidivism among first time offenders. Recidivism rates were significantly lower (p = 0.04) and time to recidivism was significantly longer (p = 0.03) for those referred specifically for mental health services than for those without any referrals, even after adjusting for offense severity. While black youths had a significantly higher recidivism rate (p = 0.02) and a shorter time to recidivism (p = 0.009) than white youths, there was no significant difference between races when referred specifically for mental health services. Among the groups studied, black youths had the most profound positive effect from mental health referrals (p < 0.0001). This study indicates the importance of detecting mental health problems among juvenile delinquents, especially for black offenders. The apparent protective effect of mental health interventions necessitates screening that better identifies underlying psychosocial factors rather than strict reliance upon diagnostic criteria and self-report. Broader or even universal mental health referrals for juvenile offenders could reduce future legal system involvement and costs to society. We review potential reasons that mental health problems go undetected and provide recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Psychiatric Quarterly is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 121300561 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Mental Health Referrals Reduce Recidivism in First-Time Juvenile Offenders, But How Do We Determine Who is Referred? – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zeola%2C+Michael%22">Zeola, Michael</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guina%2C+Jeffrey%22">Guina, Jeffrey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nahhas%2C+Ramzi%22">Nahhas, Ramzi</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Psychiatric+Quarterly%22">Psychiatric Quarterly</searchLink>. Mar2017, Vol. 88 Issue 1, p167-183. 17p. 5 Charts, 2 Graphs. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychiatric+research%22">Psychiatric research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Juvenile+delinquency%22">Juvenile delinquency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health+laws%22">Mental health laws</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Recidivism%22">Recidivism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescent+psychology%22">Adolescent psychology</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: While psychiatric disorders are common among juvenile delinquents, many mental health problems go undetected, increasing the likelihood for persistent difficulties. This is the first known study to examine mental health referral rates and recidivism in the juvenile justice system. In addition to the study, we review juvenile justice mental health screening to improve detection and treatment. Juvenile criminal records in conjunction with behavioral health screenings were analyzed to determine differences in referrals and recidivism among first time offenders. Recidivism rates were significantly lower (p = 0.04) and time to recidivism was significantly longer (p = 0.03) for those referred specifically for mental health services than for those without any referrals, even after adjusting for offense severity. While black youths had a significantly higher recidivism rate (p = 0.02) and a shorter time to recidivism (p = 0.009) than white youths, there was no significant difference between races when referred specifically for mental health services. Among the groups studied, black youths had the most profound positive effect from mental health referrals (p < 0.0001). This study indicates the importance of detecting mental health problems among juvenile delinquents, especially for black offenders. The apparent protective effect of mental health interventions necessitates screening that better identifies underlying psychosocial factors rather than strict reliance upon diagnostic criteria and self-report. Broader or even universal mental health referrals for juvenile offenders could reduce future legal system involvement and costs to society. We review potential reasons that mental health problems go undetected and provide recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Psychiatric Quarterly is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s11126-016-9445-z Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 167 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Psychiatric research Type: general – SubjectFull: Juvenile delinquency Type: general – SubjectFull: Mental health laws Type: general – SubjectFull: Recidivism Type: general – SubjectFull: Adolescent psychology Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Mental Health Referrals Reduce Recidivism in First-Time Juvenile Offenders, But How Do We Determine Who is Referred? Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zeola, Michael – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Guina, Jeffrey – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nahhas, Ramzi IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2017 Type: published Y: 2017 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00332720 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 88 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Psychiatric Quarterly Type: main |
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