Centre for Mental Health

Young people in the criminal justice system

Of the 83,900 people in prison on 30 June 2009, 11,877 were young people (aged 15-20).

Children who end up in custody are three times more likely to have mental health problems than those who do not. We also know they are very likely to have more than one mental health problem, to have a learning disability, to be dependent on drugs and alcohol and to have experienced a range of other challenges. Many of these needs go unrecognised and unmet.

Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion:
A National Pilot Scheme

At the point of arrest, there is an opportunity to identify these needs early on, to link young people and their families with the support they need and to reduce the chance of people going in and out of the youth justice system.

We have set up this national pilot to ensure that children and young people with mental health and other problems get the help they need as soon as they enter the youth justice system.

This two-year pilot project is funded by the Department of Health, the Centre for Mental Health and the Youth Justice Board. It will review the evidence of what work is most effective to address mental health needs.

Read more about the pilots here.

Mental health service models

In 2007, we were commissioned us to explore models of mental health service provision in the following areas:

1. The health practitioner in the Youth Offending Team (building on the work already completed by the NACRO)
2. Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
3. Secure settings (Secure Children's Homes, Secure training Centres and Youth Offender Institutions).

We conducted interviews with a range of health and mental health practitioners, youth justice practitioners, managers, commissioners and Directors/governors of Secure Settings. We also made contact with families and young people involved in the youth justice system.

All three final documents fed into planning the Health and Social Care strategy. The finalized documents are available below.

Download You just get on and do it: healthcare provision in Youth Offending Teams (1.3 MB)

Download Directory of forensic CAMHS services for high-risk young people (817 KB)

Download Reaching out, reaching in: Promoting mental health and emotional well-being in secure settings (1.3 MB)

Youth Justice Policy Watch