Selected Summaries of Key Studies:

Handle with Care: Serving the Mental Health Needs of Young Offenders.

J. Hubner and J. Wolfson. 126 pp. From Coalition for Juvenile Justice, 2000. This report shows that 50-75% of incarcerated youth nationwide are estimated to have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Youth of color, females, and homosexual youth are most vulnerable to mistreatment and mismanagement among those suffering from mental health problems. The Coalition for Juvenile Justice calls on Congress to spend $100 million to create cost-effective, community-based mental health programs for youth and their families.

For a copy of the report contact Coalition for Juvenile Justice at 202/467-0864. Also available online at http://www.juvjustice.org/publications/annualreport/2000/report.pdf

Identifying the Needs of Juveniles with Co-Occurring Disorders, J. Cocozza. 4 pp. From Corrections Today, December 1997. This article draws attention to the needs of juvenile offenders with mental health and substance abuse problems, and the recent national focus on this issue. Efforts in dealing with this population by the National GAINS Center are mentioned.

For a copy of this article contact the National GAINS Center at 800/311-4246.

Mental Health Disorders and Substance Abuse Problems among Juveniles, S. Bilchik. 2 pp. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Fact Sheet, July 1998. This article calls attention to the seriousness of mental health and substance problems in the juvenile justice system and makes recommendations to address these problems through research and data collection, quality assessment, program development and training, focusing on at-risk youth, and forming partnerships with key public agencies and private organizations.

For a copy of this article contact the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800/638-8736. Also available online at http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/fs9882.txt.

Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Youth in the Juvenile Justice System, J. Cocozza ed. 179 pp. From The National Coalition for the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System, 1992. This monograph thoroughly examines relevant issues surrounding mentally ill juvenile offenders including, prevalence, types of disorders, system interaction, legal issues, treatment, assessment procedures, and existing policy.

For a copy of this article contact the National GAINS Center at 800/311-4246

Youth with Mental Health Disorders: Issues and Emerging Responses, J. Cocozza and K. Skowyra. 11 pp. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Justice Journal Volume VII, Issue 1, April 2000. This article discusses the increased attention recently accorded the mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system and the need to enhance the quality of the services for youth with mental health disabilities.

For a copy of this article contact the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800/638-8736. Also available online at http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/178256.pdf.