Title
Justice system involvement into young adulthood: comparison of adolescent girls in the public mental health system and in the general population
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Services Research
Date
2-9-2009
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Adolescent; Adult; Child; Criminal Law; Databases, Factual; Female; Humans; Massachusetts; Mental Health Services; Public Health; Young Adult
Disciplines
Health Services Research | Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Psychiatry and Psychology
Abstract
We compared arrest onset and frequency and types of charges between a statewide cohort of adolescent girls in the public mental health system and girls of the same age in the general population to investigate important differences that could have policy or intervention implications. Girls in the public mental health system were arrested at earlier ages more frequently and were charged with more serious offenses than were girls in the general population. Our results strongly argue for cooperation between the public mental health and justice systems to provide mental health and offender rehabilitation in their shared population.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Am J Public Health. 2009 Feb;99(2):234-6. Epub 2008 Dec 4. Link to article on publisher's site
