Transition planning and recidivism among mentally ill juvenile offenders.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which transition planning and community service would predict lower levels of recidivism among mentally ill juvenile offenders.


METHODS
Review of legal, medical and social service records including examination of 3-month period following community release.


METHODS
Juvenile offenders incarcerated for 6 months or more (N = 44) transitioning to community.


METHODS
Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS), sum of different documented pre- and post-release discharge planning contacts, documented community service contacts.


RESULTS
Re-offense during the first year post-release.


RESULTS
Documented community service contacts in the 3 months following discharge were rare for mental health (20.5%), substance abuse (38.6%), financial assistance (29.5%), and school placement (34.1%). The average number of different pre-release and post-release discharge planning contacts was also low, M(SD)=1.86(1.68) and M(SD)= 2.34(1.71) respectively. Post-release discharge planning and the receipt of financial assistance and mental health services were all associated with lower levels of reoffending.


CONCLUSIONS
Community transition planning, including the coordination and provision of community services, is an essential component of community reintegration for juvenile offenders and is associated with lower rates of recidivism during the first year post-discharge.
University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy, Box 358854, Seattle 98103-8652, USA. trupin@washington.edu
Eric W
EW
Trupin
Aaron P
AP
Turner
David
D
Stewart
Peter
P
Wood
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014861:Washington