Predicting First Time Involvement in the Juvenile Justice System Among Emotionally Disturbed Youth Receiving Mental Health Services.

Columbus Children’s Research InstituteRates of mental illness among youth in the juvenile justice system are exceptionallyhigh, yet the understanding of the process by which some mentally ill youth end up injuvenile justice, whereas others stay in the mental health system is relatively undevel-oped. The goal of the present study is to extend previous research ndings by focusingprospectively on 659 youth between the ages of 8 and 17 years who were enrolled inMedicaid with a psychiatric diagnosis. Of those with no prior involvement with thejuvenile justice system at baseline, 12% had contact with the juvenile justice systemwithin 1 year. Those who were older, exhibited more externalizing behaviors, and camefrom minority backgrounds were more likely to come into contact with the juvenilejustice system. Dual-system involvement was common, suggesting that a more inte-grated approach between these systems needs to be developed with a special emphasison minority youth who exhibit externalizing disorders.