Authors

Arredondo, D., Kumli, K., Soto, L, Colin, E., Ornellas, J., Davilla, R., Edwards, L, Hyman, E.

Title

Juvenile Mental Health Court: Rationale and Protocols.

Source

Juvenile and Family Court Journal 52(4):1-19, 2002.

Type

Journal Article 19 pages

Resource ID

011282

Abstract Under the sponsorship of the judiciary, the Santa Clara County California Juvenile Court, in partnership with the Juvenile Mental Health Department and a technical assistance agency (SOLOMON), has pioneered a Juvenile Mental Health Court for seriously mentally ill children who have become involved in the criminal justice system. The judiciary, probation department, district attorney, public defender, county counsel, and service providers have collectively embarked upon the implementation of a modern approach to mental health diagnosis, triage, and treatment services for youth and families who come in contact with the justice system as a result of the combination of serious mental illness and juvenile delinquency. This article presents the court's rationale and protocols.

Authors

Belenko, S., Dembo, R.

Title

Treating Adolescent Substance Abuse Problems in the Juvenile Drug Court.

Source

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 26:87-110, 2003

Type

Journal Article 23 pages

Resource ID

012167

Abstract Juvenile offenders have high rates of substance use and related problems that are associated with high recidivism rates. There is a need for integrated, case-managed service delivery that is long-term and involves family and school, and well-designed drug courts have the potential to have an important impact on the way the juvenile justice system responds to substance-related delinquency. Drug courts are typically characterized by an interest in research, comprehensive planning processes that involve key stakeholders, the involvement of criminal justice and public health agencies, interagency cooperation, community involvement, the use of the therapeutic jurisprudence model, the recognition of the multiple service needs of substance-involved offenders, and the adoption of the case management model (authors).

Authors

Butts, J., Buck, J., Coggeshall, M.

Title

The Impact of Teen Court on Young Offenders.

Source

Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, April 2002.

Type

Report 48 pages

Resource ID

011397

Abstract This is the first report of findings from the Evaluation of Teen Courts (ETC) Project, which was conducted by the Urban Institute and funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The ETC Project studied teen courts in four states: Alaska, Arizona, Maryland, and Missouri. Researchers measured pre-court attitudes and post-court recidivism among more than 500 juveniles referred to teen court for non-violent offenses, such as shoplifting and vandalism. The study compared recidivism outcomes for teen court defendants with outcomes for youth handled by the regular juvenile justice system. All four of the teen courts in the ETC study had relatively low rates of recidivism. Available From: http://www.urban.org

Authors

Krikorian, G.

Title

Mental Health Court Offers New Options.

Source

LA Times, January 4, 2002.

Type

Newspaper Article 3 pages

Resource ID

010843

Abstract This article discusses what is believed to be the first court in the country that focuses only on youths with diagnosed mental health problems. It is Los Angeles County's attempt to rescue troubled teenagers from criminal activity that has the potential to transform how the nation's largest juvenile justice system treats youth with mental illness.

Authors

Honberg, R.

Title

Mental Health Courts: An Alternative to Criminalization.

Source

Attention (December): 34-39, 2002.

Type

Journal Article 6 pages

Resource ID

012440

Abstract In this article, the author describes the inception of mental health courts whose purpose is to address the needs of mentally ill offenders, both adult and juvenile. The nation's first official mental health court in Broward County, Florida, has become a model that has successfully been replicated across the country. Its purpose is to defer prosecution of non-violent offenders with mental illnesses and alternatively link these individuals with treatment and services in the community. The Court employs social workers who evaluate individuals, meet with family and friends, provide case management and follow up services and ongoing linkages with community providers. Participation is voluntary. While this concept is fairly new (since 1997), the results have been largely positive for those who are at risk for becoming involved in the justice system.

Authors

Lattimore, P., Broner, N., Sherman, R., Frisman, L., Shafer, M.

Title

A Comparison of Prebooking and Postbooking Diversion Programs for Mentally Ill Substance-Using Individuals with Justice Involvement.

Source

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 19(1): 30-64, 2003.

Type

Journal Article 35 pages

Resource ID

012948

Abstract In this article, eight programs are described representing a variety of approaches to diversion in terms of point of criminal justice intervention (prebooking or postbooking), degree of criminal justice coercion, type of linkages provided to community-based treatment, and approaches to treatment retention. The authors also describe the characteristics of almost 1,000 study participants who were diverted into these programs over an 18-month period and examine the extent to which systematic differences are observed between prebooking and postbooking subjects, as well as among sites in each of the diversion types. Results suggest that prebooking and postbooking diversion subjects were similar on most mental health indicators, but differed substantially on measures of social functioning, substance use and criminality, with postbooking subjects scoring worse on social functioning and reporting more serious substance use and criminal histories. Variability among sites was also observed, indicating differences in local preferences for the types of individuals deemed appropriate for diversion (authors).

Authors

McCord, J.

Title

Interventions: Punishment, Diversion, and Alternative Routes to Crime Prevention.

Source

In Hess, A. and Weiner, I. (eds.), Handbook of Forensic Psychology, 1999.

Type

Book Chapter 20 pages

Resource ID

011571

Abstract This review considers evidence about the effectiveness of punishment as a deterrent to crime. It then considers evidence about diversion as a deterrent. Finally, the review turns to evidence about effects of social manipulations and cognitive approaches. Preschool programs, educational and skills-training programs, and at least one post-incarceration program seem to offer promising strategies for diverting the path leading from early misbehavior to crime.

Authors

McCord, J., Widom, C., Crowell, N. (eds.)

Title

The Juvenile Justice System: Diversion.

Source

In McCord, J., Widom, C., and Crowell, N. (eds.), Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice, Washington , DC: National Academy Press, 2001.

Type

Book Chapter 9 pages

Resource ID

011568

Abstract This chapter excerpt includes a definition of the term "diversion," and discusses various alternatives to incarceration. It cites diversion studies and the outcomes of different interventions.

Authors

Oldenettel, D., Wordes, M.

Title

The Community Assessment Center Concept.

Source

Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), March 2000.

Type

Bulletin 11 pages

Resource ID

010178

Abstract The purpose of this bulletin is to inform juvenile justice practitioners and other youth service providers about OJJDP's work in developing a community assessment center (CAC) model and to increase awareness about some of the challenges associated with its implementation. The CAC model has four key elements: single point of entry, immediate and comprehensive assessments, management information system, and case management. The CAC concept provides a cost-effective way, as part of a community's comprehensive and strategic plan, to prevent and control delinquency. Available From: OJJDP, www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org

Authors

Panzer, C.

Title

Reducing Juvenile Recidivism Through Pre-Trial Diversion Programs: A Community's Involvement.

Source

Journal of Juvenile Law (18):186-207, 1997.

Type

Journal Article 11 pages

Resource ID

010262

Abstract Pre-trial diversionary programs have been shown to be effective and potentially low cost alternatives to the traditional juvenile justice system in reducing juvenile recidivism. The ultimate goal of any juvenile justice system is to ensure that juvenile offenders become responsible, law-abiding adult citizens. The more immediate objective of the alternative programs is to remove as many juveniles as possible from the "revolving door" syndrome, thus reducing recidivism.

Authors

Sell, R.

Title

Final Evaluation Report on the PINS Adjustment Services Act of 1985.

Source

Rochester, NY: Center for Governmental Research, Inc., January 1991.

Type

Report 10 pages

Resource ID

011190

Abstract The results of this independent evaluation conclude that the 1985 New York State revisions to chapter 813 of the Family Court Act concerned with the comprehensive assessment and diversion from court of persons in need of supervision - the PINS Adjustment Services legislation - was successful in promoting system level changes in implementing counties which in turn accomplished the law's intended purpose in a cost-effective fashion. Specifically, the PINS legislation: lessened the burden on family court; more expeditiously connected PINS youth and their families with services likely to decrease the need for out-of-home placements; and provided overall savings to New York State taxpayers.

Authors

Silverthorn, B.

Title

Juvenile Assessment Centers.

Source

Atlanta, GA: Southern Juvenile Defender Center.

Type

Unpublished Paper 22 pages

Resource ID

012931

Abstract This paper traces the history of Juvenile Assessment Centers (JAC) and provides an overview of the services they provide to youth in contact with the juvenile justice system. Several models for legislation are included from Florida, Kansas, Minnesota, and North Carolina. The JAC in Miami-Dade, FL is an example of a model JAC. Available From: Southern Juvenile Defender Center, Emory University School of Law, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, http://www.juveniledefender.org

Authors

Steadman, H., Barbera, S., Dennis, D.

Title

A National Survey of Jail Diversion Programs for Mentally Ill Detainees.

Source

Hospital and Community Psychiatry 45(11): 1109-1113, 1994.

Type

Journal Article 5 pages

Resource ID

002737

Abstract The authors sought information on the number, structure, and effectiveness of programs aimed at diverting inmates with mental illnesses from the criminal justice system into the mental health treatment system. Mail surveys were distributed to 1,263 U.S. jails with a capacity of 50 or more detainees to ascertain the presence or absence of diversion programs. Results indicated that only 52 U.S. jails with this capacity had formal mental health diversion programs. Programs in larger jails served fewer violent felons than did those in smaller jails, and only a small number of the jails had diversion programs for detainees with serious mental illnesses. In addition, the findings indicated a dearth of objective data on the effectiveness of the programs represented in the survey. The authors contend that systematic evaluations are needed to determine what types of programs work best for which type of detainees (authors).

Authors

Trupin, E., Selby, P., McCauley, E., Farmer, I., Lebeda, S.

Title

The Prime Time Project: Developing an Intensive Community-Based Intervention for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System.

Source

A System of Care for Children's Mental Health:205-210.

Type

Journal Article 5 pages

Resource ID

010298

Abstract The Prime Time Project is a comprehensive intervention model for youth who are at the extreme end of the juvenile justice continuum due to their history of repeat offending, relatively severe offenses, a high degree of isolation or abandonment from their natural community, and the co-occurrence of mental health disorder. Prime Time was initiated in the fall of 1995 in King County, Washington. The county council awarded a two-year grant, recognizing that effective interventions exist and that linkages and collaboration between agencies and service providers play a role in successful intervention.

Authors

Zimring, F.

Title

The Common Thread: Diversion in Juvenile Justice.

Source

California Law Review 88:2477-2495, 2000.

Type

Journal Article 18 pages

Resource ID

010265

Abstract A central objective of those who created the juvenile court was to protect young delinquents from the destructive punishments of the criminal justice system. This promotion of juvenile court as a diversion from criminal justice is distinct from more ambitious programs of "child saving" interventions because avoiding harm can be achieved even if no effective crime prevention treatments are available. This essay shows diversion has been an important motive in juvenile justice from the beginning. The past thirty years have been the juvenile court's finest hour as a diversion project: the rate of juvenile incarceration has been stable, while incarceration of young adults has soared.