Canada provides one example of a successful transition from over-incarceration and under resourced correctional facilities, to rehabilitation and community-based programs. Solutions to this injustice are readily accessible – researchers have proven that there are several things that can be done on both community wide and institutional levels to create a new future for thousands of youth. We need new ideas that honor the humanity of individuals and remind us of the potential all youth hold when they are healthy and supported. According to an article by The Atlantic, “ wreaks profound neurological and psychological damage, causing depression, hallucinations, panic attacks, cognitive deficits, obsessive thinking, paranoia, anxiety, and anger.” For an incarcerated youth whose brain is still developing, we simply cannot use the systems commonly found in our adult prisons. For example, roughly 35 percent of juveniles in detentions centers have been put in forced isolation. A lack of resources and training has led to poor methods of treatment, especially for those with mental illness or substance abuse problems. In fact, research indicates that our institutions may be further harming the mental health of children and teens. The current policies in place to support youth and their families fall short, from how behavioral problems are handled before incarceration to how youth are treated once they enter detention centers. Recently, the rate of incarceration of females has increased faster than it has for males, which further highlights the disturbing trend of using incarceration as an incidental means of treatment. Females in the juvenile justice system are particularly vulnerable, making them more likely than their male counterparts to suffer from these disorders, often at a more extreme level. All of these experiences can trigger mental disorders including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. On average, each youth reported six adverse events prior to their conviction. These events can include, but are not limited to, accidents, physical or sexual abuse, serious illness, and violence. In order to rehabilitate and care for the large number of youth who now depend on detention centers for treatment, it’s important that we understand what they are facing.ĩ3 percent of incarcerated youth report exposure to adverse events in their lives, according to a study by the Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Collaborative for Change. According to an article by Forbes, “The prevalence of mental health disorders in the juvenile justice system is more than three times higher than in the general youth population.” This indicates that for many young people, detention in the juvenile system is serving as the solution, rather than preventative measures such as counseling or behavioral therapy. It’s time for our country to reevaluate the mental health crisis in our detention facilities and begin to consider what alternative means of support we can provide for incarcerated and at-risk youth in our communities.

These shortcomings have led to high rates of recidivism, and ultimately, have failed to rehabilitate youth in a vital ways. Currently, our juvenile justice systems lack the ability to support and provide sufficient mental health services for detainees. Among the group, 20 percent suffer severe mental health problems, which limit their ability to function in daily life.

Nearly three out of four youth in juvenile court detention centers in the United States suffer from mental health or substance abuse issues.

Youth study center