Search Results (59)

Concern is expressed in Australia about a group of children called dual-involvement children. Dual-involvement children live in families who have multiple complex needs, where a child is referred first to a child protection court and later to a juvenile justice court as the child has committed offenses. One concern is whether these families and children receive early intervention therapy. Method: The paper reviews research relevant to early intervention for children with an increased likelihood of developing a mental disorder and behaving aggressively. Results: Fifteen psychological models have generated evidence about risk factors for the healthy development of children. A framework is used to describe risk factors using headings of parental factors, childhood factors, and peer factors. The review summarizes effect sizes associated with each model. Conclusions: The review concludes that variables relevant to dual-involvement children can be integrated using the concept of role the of a parent. There is a need for a tiered system of intervention involving universal interventions that are supplemented by targeted interventions for families where children have heightened vulnerability due to a higher number of specific risk factors. Topics for further research are identified, including a need for research into how therapists who use a systemic approach might practice in ways that manage ethical dilemmas that arise when using systemic therapy with two members of a court-involved family. Full article

Developmental and life-course criminology (DLC) has been the epicenter of criminology for over 35 years. The onset of DLC began with theoretical models that sought to better understand the development of antisocial and criminal activity. Then, with the ‘aging’ of longitudinal studies and the development of advanced quantitative methods, researchers began to empirically test DLC-related hypotheses and propositions. While the extant research base has been extensive, less work has considered how findings from DLC research can inform justice policy. By reviewing key insights from the extant research, this essay focuses on how DLC-related research has made policy gains and, more importantly, how it can lead to more informed decision making surrounding youthful offenders. Full article

Diversionary programs in the United States juvenile justice system were designed to redirect youth from formal legal processing towards services such as treatment, community service, or counseling. Alternative to Detention (ATD) emerged as a key strategy to reduce youth incarceration, though research suggests these programs often provide inconsistent and short-term benefits. Despite these limitations, ATD remains one of the primary, and frequently sole, methods funded and implemented by courts and stakeholders as a diversionary strategy. This article introduces Youth Enrichment Services (YES), a community-based non-profit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and describes how the Integrated Model of Juvenile Justice (IMJJ) is applied through universal, selective, and indicated interventions. As a community-based, multi-level approach, YES offers a holistic, practice-based model of prevention, mentorship, and family engagement, with implications for policy and community-driven juvenile justice reform. Full article

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those defined as ‘neurodiverse’ are significantly over-represented in the English and Welsh youth (juvenile) justice system (YJS). Evidence points to a number of significant challenges in neurodiverse children’s lives before entering the justice system that increase the likelihood of criminalisation. Then, once in the youth justice system, they encounter further challenges that are both harmful and arguably inconsistent with their human rights. This paper discusses research showing that neurodiverse children often have their rights compromised both prior to and throughout their involvement with the youth justice system. The concluding section of the paper will focus on best practices and recent developments in England and Wales that seek to close the rights gap for this group of children. It is hoped that, by considering both the advances and challenges in England and Wales, the paper will provide a useful case study for international jurisdictions seeking to close this gap for neurodiverse children in youth justice systems. Full article

Restorative justice within the juvenile justice system has gained increasing attention as an alternative to punitive approaches, particularly in relation to the social reintegration of adolescents in conflict with the law, while complementary interventions such as music therapy are often implemented to support emotional regulation, social skills, and personal development within restorative contexts. This observational, cross-sectional study examined the associations between restorative justice practices, participation in music therapy, and indicators of social reintegration among 317 adolescents involved in restorative programs in Peru. Data were collected using a structured survey composed of ordinal-scale items assessing dimensions of restorative practices, engagement in music therapy, and perceived social reintegration, with the instrument demonstrating satisfactory internal consistency. Statistical associations were analysed using Somers’ d, a non-parametric measure appropriate for assessing ordinal associations in observational research. The results revealed statistically significant and directionally consistent associations between restorative justice practices and social reintegration outcomes, as well as positive associations between participation in music therapy and higher levels of reported social reintegration. These findings should be interpreted in light of the study’s cross-sectional design and non-probability sampling strategy, which limit causal inference and generalizability. While the results are consistent with the potential relevance of integrating music-based activities within restorative contexts, future research employing experimental or longitudinal designs is required to examine causal mechanisms and long-term effects and to further clarify the role of therapeutic interventions in supporting the social reintegration of justice-involved adolescents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Justice-involved (JI) youth frequently endorse a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI, even mild TBI, can have substantial implications for long-term neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning. However, reliable, noninvasive biological indicators of chronic brain changes remain elusive. Micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are small non-coding segments of RNA that regulate a host of cellular processes. miRNAs are perturbed immediately following TBI but may continue to show changes in the chronic phase of TBI recovery. Methods: We investigated miRNA expression in a group of JI youth (n = 42, ages 12–17 [M = 14.42, SD = 1.21; 57.1% male]) with (n = 22) and without reported histories of TBI. Results: After controlling multiple comparisons, independent samples t-tests revealed five miRNAs (miR-425-3p, miR-30b-5p, miR-582-5p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-150-5p) were significantly different between youth with and without a history of TBI. Among these, four (miR-425-3p, miR-30b-5p, miR-582-5p, and miR-200c-3p) showed higher expression in youth with TBI history, whereas miR-150-5 showed lower expression in youth with TBI history. Three miRNAs (miR-584-5p, miR-10b-5p, and miR-30b-5p) were significantly different between youth with and without a history of loss of consciousness (LOC). MiR-584-5p was lower in youth with LOC history, whereas miR-30b-5p and miR-10b-5p were higher in youth with a history of LOC. Many of these miRNAs have been implicated in prior studies as being involved with inflammatory processes, including neuroinflammation. Conclusions: These results, although preliminary, provide a starting point for understanding the cellular processes related to long-term TBI outcomes within adolescents. For example, they suggest that molecular pathways involved in stress and inflammation (as well as in certain types of behavioral disorders such as substance abuse) may be implicated in long-term brain changes following TBI during development. If replicated, it may suggest future targets for pharmacological intervention. Full article

Although trauma exposure (TE) has been shown to be a robust predictor of youth involvement in the juvenile justice system, evidence regarding the role of TE amongst youth who recidivate has been more mixed. Recidivist youth are a population of particular concern, given evidence of declining mental health and diminished likelihood of returning to an adaptive developmental course. One way in which TE may contribute to these negative outcomes over time is through potentiating or “driving” mental health problems, which are especially prevalent among trauma-exposed youth in the justice system. To examine this hypothesis, longitudinal data were obtained over a 10-year period from a sample of 5615 juvenile justice-involved youth (1499 girls and 4116 boys) who completed a mental health screening at each admission to detention. Results of analyses assessing the associations among trauma exposure, linear and quadratic time, and mental health problems were consistent with the hypothesis that increases in TE were associated with increasing anger/irritability, depression/anxiety, somatic complaints, and suicidal ideation across repeat admissions. With the exception of alcohol/drug use, all mental health outcomes followed a quadratic trajectory over the course of multiple admissions. Rates of mental health problems were consistently highest for girls and White youth across all waves. These results add to our understanding of the role of trauma in mental health problems among persistent offenders and may help to inform interventions designed to reduce youth contact with the potentially iatrogenic effects of justice system involvement. Full article

Risk assessment instruments are widely used in U.S. juvenile justice systems to predict recidivism. However, concerns persist that these tools may embed systemic inequities by relying on indicators shaped by racialized disadvantage and community-level deprivation. This study examines whether race/ethnicity, detention and placement histories, and neighborhood disadvantage predict juvenile recidivism, and whether these effects vary across contexts. Using public data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and a longitudinal cohort of 2877 youth (11,508 assessments, 2015–2018), generalized estimating equations modeled rearrest within 365 days. Detention history significantly predicted rearrest; placement history showed limited effects. Neighborhood disadvantage did not predict rearrest directly but significantly amplified the effect of prior detention. Race and SDI interactions revealed divergent patterns across groups. These findings underscore the need to contextualize risk assessments within structural inequities and to reform predictive tools to support equity-centered, rehabilitative decision-making. Full article

Social work has historically operated as an extension of the carceral state, embedding policing, surveillance, and punishment into youth-serving institutions under the guise of care. This paper examines carceral seepage—the infiltration of punitive logics into social work practice—across child welfare, education, and juvenile legal, revealing how these systems function as interconnected circuits of criminalization rather than support. Using abolitionist frameworks, we critique social work’s complicity in punitive interventions and address common concerns about safety, scalability, and sustainability. Instead of reforming oppressive institutions, we argue for a fundamental transformation of social work, advocating for non-carceral models such as community-led crisis response, restorative justice, and mutual aid. By divesting from punishment and investing in collective care, abolitionist social work can move beyond harm reduction and toward genuine liberation. Full article

This study highlights the role of forensic psychology in supporting juvenile offenders within the Portuguese Justice System. Forensic psychologists ensure that legal proceedings are developmentally appropriate and psychologically informed, helping minors to understand and participate in the process. Data from the Victims Information and Assistance Office (GIAV) show that, between 2020 and 2025, 87 juvenile offenders (54 boys and 33 girls) were supported, with theft and drug trafficking being the most common crimes. Girls were more often involved in theft, and boys were more often involved in drug trafficking. Forensic psychology adds critical value by promoting rehabilitation, safeguarding rights, and contributing to fair, proportionate, and context-sensitive decisions. Full article

The association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depression has been the focus of a number of prevalent studies in recent years—particularly among high-risk youth. Depression remains a significant mental health issue among justice-involved youth. There is a well-established correlation between depressed mood and conduct problems (e.g., conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder) during childhood and adolescence, which tends to become more prevalent during adolescence. Studies of justice-involved youth reveal high prevalence rates of depression and other mood disorders. Drawing on the relevant literature, we conducted multigroup structural equation model (SEM) analyses to assess the relationships between experiencing ACEs, sexual assault victimization, and depression among male (n = 226) and female (n = 98) youth entering a post-arrest intake facility in the Florida, U.S.A. juvenile justice system in 2024–2025. The youths averaged 15 years in age, and most were attending middle school or high school. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were completed to estimate a latent variable labeled depression. Sexual assault victimization and ACEs were hypothesized to be related to each other and were specified as predictors of depression. This trauma/stress experiences and depression model was estimated in two multigroup analyses, across birth gender groups (male or female) and race groups (non-Black or Black) for the youth in this study. The results indicated that there are several notable conclusions from the SEM analyses. First, depression was a scalar invariant in the two multigroup analyses, permitting clearer comparisons of the specified predictors of this construct across groups. Second, for the race-based SEM, experience of sexual assault and the total ACE score were significantly related only in the model for Black youth. The fit of the model was “poorest” among non-Black youth, although even in this case, sexual assault experiences were a significant predictor of depression. Finally, for the gender-based model, sexual assault and ACEs were significant predictors of depression among both male and female youth. Model fit results underscore the important role of abuse trauma and ACEs in understanding these youths’ depression symptoms, and they help contribute to the literature on this topic. Full article

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, frequently observed in juvenile offenders. This systematic review explores the interplay between ADHD and juvenile delinquency, focusing on behavioural, psychological, and social dimensions. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review was conducted using EBSCO Discovery Service, Science Direct, PubMed, and snowballing techniques. Studies meeting specific inclusion criteria, including juvenile offenders diagnosed with ADHD and comparisons to non-offender or non-ADHD control groups, were analysed. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. A total of 21 studies were included, highlighting significant associations between ADHD and juvenile delinquency. ADHD symptoms, especially impulsivity and emotional dysregulation, were linked to an earlier onset of offending and higher rates of property crimes. Comorbidities such as conduct disorder, substance use disorder, and depression exacerbated these behaviours. Sociodemographic factors like low education levels and adverse family environments were also critical modifiers. Early intervention and tailored treatment approaches were emphasised to address these challenges. The findings underscore the need for early diagnosis, individualised treatment, and integrative rehabilitation programmes within the juvenile justice system to mitigate long-term risks and promote social inclusion. Full article

Planetary health is a transdisciplinary concept that erases the dividing lines between individual and community health, and the natural systems that support the wellbeing of humankind. Despite planetary health’s broad emphasis on justice, the promotion of science-based policies, and stated commitments to fairness, equity, and harm reduction, the criminal justice system has largely escaped scrutiny. This seems to be a major oversight, especially because the criminalization of mental illness is commonplace, and the system continues to be oriented around a prescientific compass of retribution and folk beliefs in willpower, moral fiber, and blameworthiness. Justice-involved juveniles and adults are funneled into landscapes of mass incarceration with ingrained prescientific assumptions. In non-criminal realms, such as obesity, there is a growing consensus that folk psychology ideas must be addressed at the root and branch. With this background, the Nova Institute for Health convened a transdisciplinary roundtable to explore the need for a ‘Copernican Revolution’ in the application of biopsychosocial sciences in law and criminal justice. This included discussions of scientific advances in neurobiology and omics technologies (e.g., the identification of metabolites and other biological molecules involved in behavior), the need for science education, ethical considerations, and the public health quarantine model of safety that abandons retribution. Full article

Numerous research studies have documented the significant influence of key types of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) on adult health and wellbeing, even in the presence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Recent studies reveal that almost 87% of justice-impacted youth reported at least one ACE. Connecting youth to PCEs after trauma has occurred has been shown to disrupt the poor health trajectory associated with ACEs. Creating juvenile justice systems that prioritize equitable access to PCEs has the potential to change the life course of system-impacted youth. The HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) framework, a research-based, community-driven approach to improving access to the key types of PCEs youth need to thrive, presents a potentially powerful strategy for juvenile justice systems to transform care for system-impacted youth. This manuscript describes this proposed approach. Full article

Youth who are detained and committed to juvenile justice facilities often struggle to successfully reintegrate into their communities following release. Research has found that there are many individual- and institutional-level barriers that can complicate the reentry process. The development of comprehensive transition plans can be helpful as youth navigate the reintegration process and reenroll in school or obtain employment. Using youth surveys and administrative data from the Center for Improving Youth Justice’s Performance-based Standards National Database for Researchers, this study explores the individual- and institutional-level factors affecting youths’ perceptions of reentry preparedness. Results indicate that youth who received assistance with their educational and intrapersonal skills while incarcerated were more likely to feel prepared, whereas youth who faced structural barriers were less likely to feel prepared. We conclude with a discussion of the policy implications for improving the reentry process for youth. Full article