Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
999 N. Capitol St. NE 
Washington, DC 20531

12/06/2024

Dear Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,

Mental health has been a topic of concern for a long time, especially within the context of juvenile justice. Research shows that a large majority of juveniles in the criminal justice system suffer from mental health disorders. Disorders such as ADHD, conduct disorders, PTSD, and depression, are often underlying causes of delinquent behavior. Yet, despite the legal obligation to provide treatment, less than 15% of juveniles receive the care they desperately need. This failure to provide proper mental health care is not only a violation of their rights but it also creates a cycle of recidivism, as untreated mental health issues lead to repeated offenses.

Currently, 70% of detained juveniles experience mental health disorders, but only a small fraction receives the appropriate care (Clark & Gehshan, 2016). This is due to a lack of funding in juvenile justice, poor collaboration between mental health services and juvenile justice institutions, and insufficient resources from the government. Currently there is a significant financial burden on the states, and as a result, juveniles' mental health needs are not adequately addressed or treated. Additionally, federal courts have ruled that juveniles with serious mental health disorders have the constitutional right to receive treatment while incarcerated (Teplin et al., 2005), but this is often ignored.

The issue is worsened by the fact that mental health diagnoses in detained juveniles are often inaccurate, leading to missed treatment opportunities when they are desperately needed. Mental health disorders that are left untreated increase the risk of recidivism, which is already a significant problem within the juvenile justice system. Studies show that behavioral health problems such as anxiety, depression, and trauma are strong predictors of recidivism in juvenile offenders (Aalsma et al., 2015). Early behavioral health interventions are essential for reducing recidivism, particularly for marginalized populations.

Countries such as India have made significant strides in addressing mental health needs for detained juveniles, they have passed laws to protect and provide mental health care for those that are in the system (Srinivasan et al., 2023). The United States can draw inspiration from these models to create policies that prioritize the mental health needs of detained juveniles and reduce the stigma. By increasing funding for mental health evaluations and treatments in juvenile detention centers we can ensure that juveniles receive the care they are legally entitled to so that they can leave the system before the cycle repeats into adulthood.

I urge you to join me in advocating for increased funding, improved mental health services, and rehabilitative policies for juveniles in the criminal justice system. Together, we can fight for a system that treats juveniles as individuals that can leave the juvenile justice system and not being defined as their offenses. It is time to provide these youths with the opportunity to be free from the barriers of untreated mental health disorders and the cycle of recidivism.

Sincerely,

Sierra Remer