Youth With Mental Health Conditions Held In Juvenile Detention Due To Lack Of Treatment Services

Youth with mental health conditions are being held in juvenile detention facilities while awaiting placement in mental health treatment programs, according to a recent report. Across 25 states, 75 facilities reported holding youth who were eligible for release to external mental health programs, including psychiatric treatment facilities, home-based services, and community mental health services, but who remained in detention because those services were not available.

The findings are based on a bipartisan congressional investigation led by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Representative Jen Kiggans. The investigation surveyed 355 juvenile detention facility administrators nationwide.

Of the 56 facilities that . . .