Mental Health Treatment in Juvenile Justice Secure Care Facilities: Practice and Policy Recommendations

Responding to the needs of juvenile offenders with serious mental illness is a serious concern for correctional administrators and mental health providers. The recommendations for mental health treatment provide guidelines about how to address the needs of incarcerated youth. A national group of expert researchers and practitioners convened for a conference to recommend practice guidelines. Five overarching recommendations and practice guidelines for mental health treatment in juvenile justice secure care facilities emerged. Conference recommendations, practice and policy guidelines regarding characteristics of youth, screening and assessment, intervention and case management services, community transition, and residential safety are presented. Recommendations for future direction are provided.