Can Addressing Mental Illness among the Youth Reduce Crime?

Youth crime is a problem across the world. It seems this particular issue in society is on the rise. There is no one cause since every child and population has a unique situation. Some blame lack of moral guidance, lack of coping skills, parents not being involved, lack of employment, and genetics. One thing that I believe has a huge toll on youth crime is mental health. According to Cuellar, McReynolds, and Wasserman (2006), “It is becoming clear that the increasing number of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system is one of the most pressing problems facing law enforcement and corrections today”.

Mental illness can be defined as alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior associated with distress and/or impaired functioning (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2015). It is estimated that between 65 and 70 percent of the youth population that are arrested each year in the United States have a mental disorder (National Conference of State Legislators, 2011). About one in four suffers from a mental illness that it alters their ability to function (National Conference of State Legislators, 2011).  By addressing one major cause of youth crime, we can begin to find solutions on how to fix the issue.

            Mental illness has had a recent increase in awareness across the world. Within the criminal justice system by correctly diagnosing a child with a mental illness, they can avoid jail, arrests, or being charged. Once the child is correctly diagnosed, he/she can be placed in appropriate community care, such as a diversion program. Diversion programs can be an alternative to judicial and probation cases. The goal of these programs is to create a community service that addresses the specific mental illness. By identifying the route issue, we can figure out a course of treatment to help the individual’s needs. These programs utilize social contexts and personal factors to create a course of treatment. The average time a program takes is about4 to 5 months. The treatment usually includes cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, interpersonal skills training, and if possible, family therapy.

These are minor offenders, that can be rehabilitated to break the cycle of crime. Which limits the cost of crime in society as well as increasing safety in society. For the youth that have underlying mental illnesses that commit crimes,  may be treatable and prevent further crimes. The prospect of prevention may be an effective solution to reduce youth crime.

Programs aim to rehabilitate rather than incarcerate the youth. 

PBS NewsHour (2015). Programs aim to rehabilitate rather than incarcerate. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoJIK1jtf70&t=52s. Accessed: 01/04/2020

Reference

Evans Cuellar, A., McReynolds, L. S., & Wasserman, G. A. (2006). A Cure for Crime: Can Mental Health Treatment Diversion Reduce Crime among Youth?, 25(1), 197-214. doi: 10.1002/pam.20162 (Accessed: 01/04/2020)

PBS News Hour. (2015). Programs aim to rehabilitate rather than incarcerate. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoJIK1jtf70&t=52s (Accessed: 01/04/2020)

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). (2015) Report from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System: Mental Illness in Canada. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/report-canadian-chronic-disease-surveillance-system-mental-illness-canada-2015.html (Accessed: 01/04/2020)

MacArthur, C.T., & MacArthur, J.D. (2011). Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Justice Guide Book for Legislators. Denver, CO: National Conference of State Legislators. Available at: https://www.ncsl.org/documents/cj/jjguidebook-complete.pdf (Accessed: 01/04/2020)