NCJ Number
182472
Date Published
June 1998
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This report examines the mental health and substance recovery needs of adolescent girls in the juvenile justice system.
Abstract
Adolescent females in contact with the juvenile justice system who experience complicated mental health, substance abuse and primary health care needs do not fare well in systems designed for boys. There are profound differences between male and female adolescents in gender socialization, environmental stressors, and development. The predominance in girls’ lives of abuse, subsequent posttraumatic stress, depression, suicidality, low self-esteem, self-injury, and substance abuse is frequently compounded by poverty, poor scholastic retention, and relatively few community resources. Juvenile justice management policies and crisis protocols designed for males easily re-stimulate pre-existing conditions in females, creating high risks for decompensation and rapid trauma-response cycles. The report recommends and describes gender-specific programs and practices, as well as gender-specific, culturally sensitive crisis intervention protocols and procedures. Appendix, references