A new report from Congress highlights a concerning trend: children with mental health conditions are being held in juvenile detention facilities instead of receiving necessary treatment. The report, titled “Prolonged Incarceration of Children Due to Mental Health Care Shortages,” released Thursday by the staff of Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Jen Kiggans, reveals that many facilities lack adequate access to mental health services.
Report Findings
The report is based on a survey distributed to public juvenile detention facilities nationwide. Approximately half of the facilities that responded reported instances of holding children in detention because they were awaiting placement in offsite mental health care. Sen. Ossoff stated, “This should shock America’s conscience. Children with special needs, locked up for extended time instead of getting the mental health care that they need.”
According to the survey, 75 detention centers across 25 states have held young people for days or months while waiting for space to become available in long-term psychiatric residential treatment facilities. One respondent from North Dakota explained that a lack of secure public placement options for youth experiencing violent outbursts results in them being sent to correctional facilities.
Longstanding Issue
Linda Teplin, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Medical School, noted that this issue is not new. She stated, “I am delighted that they commissioned this investigation, however this is nothing new.” Teplin, who has studied youth and detention for three decades, emphasized that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders is significantly higher in juvenile facilities than in the general population, and that access to services remains limited even after release.
Sen. Ossoff acknowledged the decades-long nature of the crisis and suggested that bipartisan collaboration is essential to enacting legislative solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the basis of this report?
The report was based on a survey sent to administrators of public juvenile detention facilities around the country.
How many facilities responded to the survey?
One hundred fifty-seven facilities responded to the survey, which was sent to 355 facilities.
What did Linda Teplin say about the report?
Linda Teplin stated, “I am delighted that they commissioned this investigation, however this is nothing new.”
As communities grapple with the intersection of youth mental health and the juvenile justice system, what steps might be taken to prioritize treatment over incarceration for vulnerable young people?
