Report: More Funding Needed for Juvenile Mental Health
State juvenile facilities for girls are failing to provide adequate mental health support for victims of trauma, according to a report released Wednesday by the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition.
To address such needs, the coalition recommends implementing more "trauma-informed programs" and increasing funding for programs that “keep youth in their home counties.”
In July, the coalition interviewed about 50 girls housed at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex in Brownwood, Texas, where all of the approximately 100 girls incarcerated statewide are housed. “In general, because there are so many more boys in the system, a lot of things are ...
Comments (5)
Mike Andras via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sheriff Mike Andras would donate 10% of his salary for promoting a comprehensive Mental Health program.vote Mike Andras for Wilco Sheriff!
David Spratt
Another fine story about how mistreated youthful criminals are being treated. Last week we learned Prisoners in TDC were not getting top notch medical care , even though they get better medical care than many people not in prison.
Why not charge these family members who care so much about them and that they need more phone time for? Parents should be held financially responsible for some of the burden and these costs their delinquent spawn are placing on the public at large.
Recently one of these fine Citizens was let go and within 24 hrs had hooked up with an accomplice , kidnapped and carjacked a woman , and she probably only survived because she escaped on her own. At least he was healthy and well fed when he was unleashed on society to wreak havoc.
Another one , recently convicted,,,,went on a killing spree, while he was supposed to be reporting to his P.O, At least he will be put down like the rabid animal he is , unless some bleeding heart lets him escape his date with the reaper.
The best way to reduce crime is not rehab, education, providing grade A health services, coddling criminals and letting them cry about how they have been done wrong somewhere, sometime, by someone.
My first thought every time I hear a story about an Armed citizen or law enforcement shooting and killing a burglar, carjacker, robber or rapist ,, is that they saved their own life as well as possibly saving countless others from becoming prey for these animals. They all should receive medals and monetary awards for their contribution to civil society.
These people are not " Victims" ,,, They are criminals and the people on the receiving end of the crimes they have committed to be incarcerated for in the first place are the Victims.
Youth Justice Crusader
One of the highest predictors for female delinquency is their exposure to traumatic experiences! Locking them up and not addressing those instances only exacerbates the situation. If the public is SO concerned with ensuring their safety, then maybe they should turn their attention to the current conditions in which these youth are housed. The last time I checked, putting someone in an 8x10 cell, with nothing to do, while others taunt them, doesn't exactly foster an environment for pie making. And then we wonder why "criminals" re-entering into society, are so bad. These children are our future and if we don't address their needs now, we will be living in a state/country of constant fear. Not to mention that the whole purpose of the juvenile justice system is to TREAT these kids, NOT PUNISH THEM. The state is charged with doing what is in the best interest for the child, if we are going to neglect their needs, then we're no better than the people we took them from. FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Ryan Gunn via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Which need further care. Normally ASH is used to house inmates that the jailors can't control which ends up being the retarded, but if these girls need help there is a place less likely to fail.
Sonora Hartley
I have read that girls are most often abused or traumatized by male family members. Other adults in the family do nothing to protect the girls as often the perpetrator is a bread winner or everyone is afraid of them. The girl either runs away and gets into trouble or begins to act out and is eventually incarcerated. If this is true then placing these troubled children close to their homes seems counterproductive.