Juvenile Justice

Abstract

Adolescents in juvenile detention have a unique set of health needs and face a complex set of barriers to optimal nutritional health. With thousands of adolescents being detained in juvenile correctional facilities every year it is important to have context for the system that influences their lives while detained and after they are released. This chapter provides a general overview of the current system of juvenile detention and how food and nutrition regulations are implemented, along with recommendations for how to better support improved-long term health outcomes. The current youth detention system is not always funded to optimize the rehabilitation and long-term health of youth, and little is known about the potential long-term impact of nutrition counseling within the juvenile justice system. Youth in detention enter the system with medical vulnerabilities due to exposure to early childhood adversity and ongoing chronic stress. Improving the uniformity of healthcare for adolescents in juvenile detention may lead to improvements in long-term physical and mental health outcomes.