Juvenile Detention Center Investigation: An Examination of Conditions of Care for Youth with Mental Health Needs

New Jersey, county juvenile detention facilities are often used to confine youth with serious mental health needs. These youth are frequently held in detention centers due to the paucity of less restrictive placement options that would allow them to remain with their families or in their communities, where appropriate, and have access to care to address their identified needs. Detention centers are generally not equipped to identify youth with mental illness, to assess their condition or to provide them with necessary services to assure their stability and support their mental health while detained.