How does mental health assessment help judicial decision-making?
As many as 65% of juvenile justice youth have mental disorders, and as many as 40% of those youth have never received treatment prior to court involvement. Evidence-based mental health assessments are now available to efficiently and effectively identify justice youth with mental disorders and substance abuse problems. When judges have accurate mental health information, dispositions can include appropriate treatment, hopefully improving rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. The Center recommends that all youth in the juvenile justice system should be screened and assessed between adjudication and disposition to better inform judicial decision-making in this regard. 3. What states/sites are you in now? Please see our site map. 4. What types of juvenile justice sites does the Center work with? Optimal sites are those interested in systematic or statewide implementation of Center assessment programs in juvenile assessment/evaluation centers, detention, secure/corrections, Training Scho
