YOUTH JUSTICE FEASIBILITY STUDY

摘要: The Mental Health Services for Young People Subcommittee of the Youth Justice Multi-Disciplinary Committee contracted the authors of this document to conduct a research study with the following goals:(1) to identify the service needs of young offenders between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age including youth within this age range who were at high risk of becoming involved in juvenile crime, and (2) to identify a “best practice” model for the assessment and treatment of these youth based upon their needs.In order to accomplish the objectives outlined by the committee, a number of initiatives were undertaken. The first was to determine what services are currently being provided to young offenders (and conduct disordered youth) in their communities throughout the province. A survey (see Appendix A) was designed to collect general information from service providers throughout the province regarding the method of interventions most often utilized in treating these youth and the perceived success rate with these methods. The survey was sent out to persons identified as key service providers to adolescents within Mental Health, Drug Dependency, Education, Child Welfare, Group Homes, Probation, Alternative Measures Societies, and Resource Centers. In addition, key staff at the Youth Detention Centers were surveyed. A modified version of the questionnaire was distributed to Judges/Justices and Lawyers who adjudicate these youth (see Appendix B). In addition, statistical data was obtained from the Department of Justice regarding youth crime rates as well as from the Department of Health on frequency of diagnoses of Disruptive …