Juvenile justice and adolescent health: Crime, punishment, and life-course trajectory

Abstract

In this chapter, the juvenile justice system will be examined from a health and mental health perspective to show the impact on the adolescent’s life now and in the future. This discussion will be predicated on a review of the globalization of crime control with the focus on juvenile justice. Emergent findings from the research on the impact of juvenile justice involvement on adolescent development and life course will be provided. Care and treatment of adolescents in the juvenile justice system who present with mental health needs will be examined and compared to best practices in mental health. Girl’s health issues will be singled out for special attention. Typically, ignored because the largest percentages of adolescent offenders are male, girl’s health and mental health needs are no less as important. Adolescent risky and problem behaviors that are age specific will be described, and interventions that show promise in reducing the harm will be discussed. The impact of child abuse and juvenile justice, and its consequences on an adolescent’s life course will be explored. To begin this chapter, however, the research on the neuroscience of developmental behavior will provide a platform based on science that will help us look forward to the day when the legal protection of young people suspected of or convicted of a crime will be as important as punishing adolescent status offenders and adolescent criminal behavior.