Mental Health of Youthful Offenders

• NCJ Number: 182371
• Author(s): Linda Teplin
• Date Published: May 2000
• Length: 0 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/NCJRS
• Publication Series: NIJ Research in Progress Seminars
• Publication Format: Film
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Color VHS videotape, 1 hour

Annotation

This video of a National Institute of Justice "Research in Progress Seminar" presents Dr. Linda Teplin's report on findings to date on the prevalence of mental disorders and comorbidity (combination of multiple mental disorders) among a sample of 830 juveniles in a Chicago detention facility.

Abstract

Dr. Teplin first identifies factors that make it likely that youth with mental disorders will contact the juvenile justice system. She notes that youth most likely to be placed in detention are poor. Their families have not been able to afford mental health services, since most do not have insurance coverage, and those who do have limited coverage for mental health services. Chicago was selected for this study because of racial and ethnic diversity in the juvenile detention population. A stratified sample was used to ensure diversity of ethnicity in the study population; there was an oversampling for girls. All members of the sample were administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, a reliable instrument used to diagnose mental disorders in children and youth. Urine samples for drug tests were also obtained. Two-thirds of the sample tested positive for drugs, with marijuana being the most frequent drug used. Forty-six percent of the girls and 68 percent of the boys tested positive for drug use. Two-thirds of the sample had one or more of the mental disorders that were detected by the diagnostic instrument. There was a high rate of depression among girls. Fifty percent of the sample as a whole manifested either alcohol or drug dependence or both. Over two-thirds had both affective disorders and co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Dr. Teplin offers suggestions for mental health services in detention facilities, with an emphasis on treatment for comorbidity and liaison with community mental health and substance abuse treatment services, given the short period of detention. Questions and answers from the audience follow the presentation.