NCJ Number
164520
Date Published
1996
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Juvenile health service centers based on the model provided by the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Juvenile Assessment Center (HCJAC) offer a promising method for intervening with high-risk youth at or before their first contact with the juvenile justice system, although it is unclear whether adequate political support and resources will be provided.
Abstract
Youth entering juvenile justice systems often have serious and multiple personal and family problems such as physical abuse, sexual victimization, problems in psychological functioning, educational problems, and alcohol and other drug use. HCJAC began operations in January 1993. The facility is coordinated by a private, nonprofit drug treatment agency. Assessors complete preliminary screening of arrested youths and refer youths to specific services. Laboratory tests examine drug consumption. The results determine whether to proceed with in-depth assessments. The HCJAC has recast the front end of the juvenile justice system, increased interagency coordination, and improved the efficiency of processing arrested youths. Communities wanting to set up a health services center based on this model should use indicator data to analyze juvenile health and social service needs, apply this analysis to an operational and management review, and develop interventions to fill gaps. However, establishing such a center may be impeded by the current and increasingly punitive attitudes of Federal and State legislators. Figure and 58 references