Connections between youth mental health and the juvenile justice system

Many experiences shape the mental health of children and youth, including relationships with family and peers, traumatic events and interactions with the juvenile justice system. By ensuring the health and well-being of children, juvenile justice policies can prevent delinquent behavior and improve community safety.

This brief outlines the root causes of mental health challenges for youth at risk for justice involvement and includes nine policy options that state policymakers can implement to improve mental health outcomes for at-risk youth and prevent justice involvement, while preventing delinquent behavior, promoting accountability and cultivating community safety.

Click here for a two-page executive summary

3 key findings

• Juvenile detention is harmful for youth mental health, resulting in higher rates of depression and suicidal ideation among justice-involved youth. Research finds that detention does not effectively deter delinquent behavior.
• Some groups of young people, such as Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ youth, are unfairly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. They are also more likely to have experienced trauma and discrimination, as well as poverty and a lack of neighborhood safety, compounding risk for poor mental health.
• Strengthening crisis intervention, diverting youth from justice involvement and improving mental health treatment access within detention facilities are critical for reducing juvenile justice involvement and improving outcomes. Youth in DYS facilities need consistent access to evidence-based mental health treatment both while detained and after release.

Related HPIO work

• Connections between Criminal Justice and Health Project
• Ohio Child Mental Health Project

Members of HPIO’s child mental health advisory group contributed information and feedback to this brief.

Funding for this project was provided by the Ohio State Bar Foundation and HPIO’s core funders.