What is the underlying rationale of state juvenile justice systems? Is it to punish youths who commit crimes or to rehabilitate youths to give them a second chance? Although this perpetual debate plays out similarly for incarcerated adults, what is unique to the juvenile detention discussion is the people who are most affected: youths. Yes, they are supposed to be corrected when they do something wrong but, isn’t it also important to invest in them and give them the opportunity to mature and grow into adulthood? When considering factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency, such as mental health and substance use problems, negative environmental influences, or complicated family situations, the role of state juvenile justice systems and community providers becomes clear – to prevent juvenile delinquency whenever possible and to rehabilitate youths who are in the system to give them the best chance to succeed.

Studies have indicated that 70 percent or more of youths who are securely detained in a juvenile justice facility have a mental health or related disorder; in contrast, approximately 20 percent of the general youth population have such a disorder. According to a public opinion poll focusing on juvenile delinquency and mental illness, a majority of people polled viewed alternatives to incarceration – such as community mental health treatment, mentoring, and vocational training – as effective ways to rehabilitate youths. In addition, 8 out of 10 polled strongly favored taking away some of the money states spend on incarcerating youth offenders and using that funding to pay for counseling, education, and job training.

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