Influence of Mental Health Disorders on Severity of Reoffending in Juveniles

• NCJ Number: 241857
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2013 Pages: 289-301
• Author(s): Machteld Hoeve; Larkin S. McReynolds; Cary McMillan; Gail A. Wasserman
• Date Published: March 2013
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF
• Sponsoring Agency: Carmel Hill Fund; Marie Curie Grant of the European Union
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study conducted secondary data analyses on mental health assessment and offense history data on data on Alabama juveniles in five counties.

Abstract

The authors conducted secondary data analyses on mental health assessment and offense history data for 700 juveniles referred to juvenile justice agencies in Alabama (probation and detention). Multiple regression analysis was applied to predict subsequent offense severity by disorder profile, adjusting for prior offense severity and background variables. Juveniles with a substance use disorder with or without co-occurring disorders were at greater risk for escalations in offense seriousness over time. Early in juvenile justice system contact, juveniles should get effective treatment for substance use to prevent offending escalation. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.