NCJ Number
241914
Date Published
November 2011
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This 2010 study identified where in Texas licensed professionals were most needed to serve juvenile offenders and their families, as well as the types of professionals needed.
Abstract
The study found that the need to increase the availability of licensed professionals who can work with juvenile offenders and their families was most prevalent in counties along the Texas-Mexico border, as well as many counties in other parts of South Texas, West Texas, and the Panhandle. Certain types of licensed professionals who can work with juvenile offenders and their families were not located in many counties and often were not available in an adjacent county. Seventy-eight percent of counties in Texas had no child and adolescent psychiatrists as of September 2010. In 42 counties, there were 20 or more mentally ill juveniles in the justice system for every child and adolescent psychiatrist. In nearly 50 counties, there were at least 20 juveniles in the justice system per licensed clinical social worker. A total of 148 counties (58 percent) had no or only one licensed psychologist as of September 2010; 177 counties (70 percent) had no licensed sex offender treatment provider as of September 2010; and 146 counties (57 percent) had one or no licensed clinical social worker as of November 2010. Counties with comparatively large numbers of juveniles per child-and-adolescent psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, and licensed clinical social worker were mostly found along the Texas-Mexico border and in the Panhandle. Counties with comparatively large numbers of juveniles per licensed sex offender treatment specialist, licensed chemical dependency counselor, and licensed professional counselor tended to be located along the Texas-Mexico border and in South Texas. The study methodology is described. Appended listing of the number of each type of licensed professional in each county as of September 2010