National Context
In the United States 70% of youth in the system are diagnosed with a mental disorder (Hammond, S. 2007). This issue impacts the United States because the lack of adequate, appropriate and accessible mental health care affects the youth due to incarnation. This is a national crisis because mental health disorder in the juvenile justice system shows higher rates among youth. Several studies have shown that Incarcerated youth are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, post- traumatic stress, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc due the exposure of violence and treatment settings (Odgers, C., Burnette, M., Chauhan, P., Moretti, M., & Reppucci, D. Misdiagnosing the Problem:Mental Health Profiles of Incarcerated Juveniles). This shows that juvenile prisons are not appropriate institutions to treat disorders, because the environmental setting and exposure to violence worsen juvenile behavior. As a result to this, effective treatment and programs are needed because juveniles with severe disorders return to recidivism of their behavior. The system does not meet the needs for adolescents because they face more mental health challenges due to inadequate and inaccessible treatment.
The exposure to violence increase deviant behavior because many juveniles are target or victims of law enforcement and cell inmates. Many are sexual abuse and assaulted due to trauma and childhood experiences.
In 2010 there were 32 states that cut of their mental health community programs. This take way was not a solution because more juveniles coming out of the system are need of therapy and rehabilitation. This shows that we need to help our generation by providing opportunities such as sufficient treatment.
According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, it states “criminal justice facilities the symptoms of mental illnesses are often misinterpreted by inadequate trained staff with disobedience, defiance or even threats” (NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2004).This proves that it’s wrong to place children with mental and health disorders in juvenile detention centers because it worsens behavior and mental health conditions. The issue is that states juvenile centers it spends more on their correctional system, rather than they do for treatment or education. It cost 50,000 to 80,000 a year to lock a child up in a detention facility (NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2004). The lack of inadequate treatment shows that the juvenile justice system budgets for the incarceration of children, instead of budgeting for something significant as their education or mental health treatment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, mental health service are reduced or eliminated because states struggle to balance their budget. Activists in the cities can address this issue by creating programs to enhance treatment and opportunities for children with mental health disorders. For instance, there are organizations such as the National Center For Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, Health and Medicine Research Group and Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health that specifically work to provide treatment and health services to adolescents.
The exposure to violence increase deviant behavior because many juveniles are target or victims of law enforcement and cell inmates. Many are sexual abuse and assaulted due to trauma and childhood experiences.
In 2010 there were 32 states that cut of their mental health community programs. This take way was not a solution because more juveniles coming out of the system are need of therapy and rehabilitation. This shows that we need to help our generation by providing opportunities such as sufficient treatment.
According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, it states “criminal justice facilities the symptoms of mental illnesses are often misinterpreted by inadequate trained staff with disobedience, defiance or even threats” (NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2004).This proves that it’s wrong to place children with mental and health disorders in juvenile detention centers because it worsens behavior and mental health conditions. The issue is that states juvenile centers it spends more on their correctional system, rather than they do for treatment or education. It cost 50,000 to 80,000 a year to lock a child up in a detention facility (NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2004). The lack of inadequate treatment shows that the juvenile justice system budgets for the incarceration of children, instead of budgeting for something significant as their education or mental health treatment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, mental health service are reduced or eliminated because states struggle to balance their budget. Activists in the cities can address this issue by creating programs to enhance treatment and opportunities for children with mental health disorders. For instance, there are organizations such as the National Center For Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, Health and Medicine Research Group and Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health that specifically work to provide treatment and health services to adolescents.