Bio-Chemical Needs of Juvenile Probation Referrals

• NCJ Number: 72604
• Author(s): J Rowland; D Hogner; J Walden
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Fresno Cty Probation Dept
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

The Fresno County Probation Department (California) examined the feasibility of using biochemical approaches (lighting, nutrition, color) in the treatment of juvenile offenders.

Abstract

A needs assessment was conducted by the juvenile division during the first 2 weeks of January 1980. All juvenile intake referrals were screened using the Nutritional-Behavioral Inventory (N-BI) and a diet survey. These instruments were designed to detect biochemical imbalances and used to determine whether there were sufficient numbers of juveniles within the system who could benefit from an orthomolecular approach to treatment. Survey results indicated that 51 percent of the minors referred to intake and processed further appeared to have sufficient nutritional imbalances (N-BI scores of 50 or above) to warrant further biochemical testing and approximately 20 percent appeared to require complete physical examinations (N-BI scores above 70). The N-BI scale for hypoglycemia indicated 21 percent of the youths should receive further testing for hypoglycemia. Preliminary results suggested that juveniles charged with multiple property offenses, serious property offenses, major crimes against persons, or alcohol and alcohol-related offenses obtained higher average N-BI and hypoglycemia scores (indicating greater biochemical disturbances); this was also found for female offenders, 14- to 16-year-old youths, and juveniles with prior records. Family meal patterns were found to be related to N-BI and hypoglycemia scores. Most youths ate at least one meal with their families, but those who rarely, if ever, ate even one meal with their families showed higher scores on both the N-BI and the hypoglycemia scale, with many showing need for further testing. These results demonstrate the presence among the juvenile probation population of serious biochecmial problems which have been effectively treated through orthomolecular approaches with similar delinquent populations. Therefore, the probation department plans to develop programs to aid these minors. Future research and evaluation efforts will attempt to define, develop treatment approaches, and determine the efficacy of any new program or treatment approaches. Four tables are provided. (Author abstract modified)