Arrests of adolescent clients of a public mental health system during adolescence and young adulthood
Authors
Davis, MaryannBanks, Steven M.
Fisher, William H.
Gershenson, Bernice
Grudzinskas, Albert J. Jr.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of PsychiatryDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2007-11-06Keywords
AdolescentAdult
Crime
Databases as Topic
Female
Humans
Male
Massachusetts
Mental Disorders
*Mental Health Services
*Public Sector
Risk Assessment
Health Services Research
Mental and Social Health
Psychiatric and Mental Health
Psychiatry
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship of age and gender with risk of arrest among adolescents and young adults who were intensive adolescent users of public mental health services. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) and juvenile and criminal courts. Participants were youths receiving DMH adolescent case management services sometime in 1994-1996 who were born between 1976 and 1979 (781 males and 738 females). They were cross-matched to document arrests between age seven and 25. The study examined age at first arrest, age-specific risk, and the relationship between arrest history and arrest risk by gender and age. RESULTS: Most males (69%) and almost half the females (46%) were arrested by age 25. First arrest was most common before age 18. As in the general population, males' arrest patterns were more concerning than those of females, although patterns were of concern in both groups. Most female arrestees had multiple arrests, many as adults. No gender differences were observed for several factors, including risk of first arrest over age 18. Risk was far greater for those arrested in the previous year than for those never arrested. CONCLUSIONS: Findings justify concerns of public mental health systems regarding justice system involvement of adolescent clients. Risk of first arrest was significant from early adolescence through age 24, indicating a need for arrest prevention into young adulthood. The heightened arrest risk at all ages among those who were recently arrested demarcates a population in need of immediate intervention.Source
Psychiatr Serv. 2007 Nov;58(11):1454-60. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1176/appi.ps.58.11.1454Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/45217PubMed ID
17978256Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1176/appi.ps.58.11.1454
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