NCJ Number
244427
Date Published
September 2013
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This paper provides advice on developing and revising suicide prevention protocols for youth in contact with the juvenile justice system.
Abstract
This paper prepared by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention provides advice on developing and revising suicide prevention protocols for justice involved youth. As noted in this paper, suicide prevention efforts in the juvenile justice system need to begin at youths' initial entry point into the system and continue on at every step along the way. This guide provides advice on developing and using these practices at the following points of contact within the juvenile justice system: referral/arrest, courts, probation, detention and secure/non-secure care facilities, and aftercare. The guide also describes a set of performance-based standards for juvenile correction and detention facilities and a comprehensive suicide prevention program for use at these facilities that should involve the following components: training; identification, referral, and evaluation; communication, housing (safe environment); levels of observation, follow-up, treatment planning; intervention (emergency response); reporting and notification; and mortality-morbidity review. Each of these components is described as it could be used along the different points of contact within the juvenile justice system. The report from the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators entitled Suicide Prevention in Juvenile Correction and Detention Facilities was used as a basis for developing the standards. Appendix and references