title: An international perspective on the rights of juvenile offenders or "children living in exceptionally difficult conditions".
abstract: Substance user treatment providers, researchers, policy makers, and educators working in the juvenile justice field may be unaware of international policies governing the protection of youthful offenders. This presentation reviews the international rights of detained and incarcerated youth outlined in a variety of United Nations documents. Adolescents in contact with criminal justice systems have the right to the "highest attainable standard of health, both physical and mental." When substance abuse is involved they have the right to receive appropriate community-based treatment. Periods of contact with the criminal justice system may be one among very few opportunities to provide services for youth and these opportunities should not be wasted.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008605:Mental Health Services; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014480:United Nations