title: Effects of mental health disorders on the risk of juvenile justice system involvement and recidivism among children placed in out-of-home care.
abstract: This study examined the effect of specific mental health disorders on the risk of juvenile justice system involvement and subsequent recidivism among maltreated children placed in out-of-home care. The sample was comprised of all children in Florida aged 7-17 years who were investigated for maltreatment and subsequently placed in out-of-home care between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005 (N = 5,720). Presence of mental health disorders and absence of a caregiver were both significantly associated with juvenile justice involvement. Among all examined mental health disorders, conduct disorder was the strongest predictor of juvenile justice involvement. Findings also indicated that, compared to children who did not have identified mental health disorders, children diagnosed with mental health disorders were approximately 80% more likely to experience recidivism. Implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, MHC 2435, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612-3807, USA. yampol@fmhi.usf.edu
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yampolskaya
authors.forename: Emmeline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002669:Child Welfare; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology