The influence of mental health disorders on severity of reoffending in juveniles

The authors conducted secondary data analyses on mental health assessment and offense history data for 700 juveniles referred to juvenile justice agencies in Alabama (probation and detention). Multiple regression analysis was applied to predict subsequent offense severity by disorder profile, adjusting for prior offense severity and background variables. Juveniles with a substance use disorder with or without co-occurring disorders were at greater risk for escalations in offense seriousness over time. Early in juvenile justice system contact, juveniles should get effective treatment for substance use to prevent offending escalation.