Publisher's Synopsis
Although the overall number of youths involved in the juvenile justice system has been decreasing, on any given day in 2011 there were still more than 60,000 young people detained or committed to juvenile justice residential and secure care facilities. Many of these youths have experienced abuse or neglect, unsafe neighborhood environments, homelessness, and/or involvement in the child welfare system. A large percentage of committed youths exhibit mental health conditions and have, historically, failed to receive mental health services. In addition, there are three to four times more students with disabilities who require special education an related services such as those identified with emotional disturbance or specific learning disabilities in the adjudicated youth population than among students in community schools.
