Reversing the Trend Toward the Juvenile Justice System As Default Mental Health Provider for Texas Kids
An estimated 7 in 10 children in the juvenile justice system have at least one mental health disorder. The juvenile justice system was not designed to treat mental illness, and there is no evidence that locking up mentally ill youth is an effective way to prevent them from committing future acts of delinquency. Texas can ensure children get the mental health supports and services they need to stay out of the correctional system--not only as teens, but also later in life. Fortunately for taxpayers, the strategy most effective in helping youth, treating them in the community, also happens to make communities safer, while saving public dollars.
