Mental Health Care in the Justice System

Projects

This initiative is intended to increase access to medical and mental health services for youth in the juvenile justice system, specifically those in detention, local correctional programs, or in reentry status. A particular focus is to examine the mental health screening and assessment instruments used in processing youth, the linkages that probation departments have to other county stakeholders, and the readiness of counties to participate in a significant reform effort in the provision of these services.

Healthy Returns Initiative Evaluation

NCCD is conducting a four-year evaluation of the Healthy Returns Initiative of The California Endowment. We will examine system change in the provision of mental health services to youth in custody in the juvenile justice system in five California counties. The intended system change will result from using evidence-based screening tools to match youth with services, providing appropriate and culturally sensitive services to youth in custody, and linking youth to post-release services in their home communities.

Interviews, focus groups, surveys, review reports, and other written materials will document change over the four-year evaluation period. In addition, data on youth in the Healthy Returns program and a comparison group will be analyzed and reported.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice

In an ongoing effort to improve the entire state juvenile system, NCCD staff will continue to monitor the conditions of confinement of the youth in custody in the Division of Juvenile Justice facilities in California, including the provision of mental health services.