Thriving to Heal Traumas

The juvenile arrest rate for crimes dropped forty one percent according to the Violent Crime Index. However, African American and Latino/a youth receive harsher treatment in the juvenile system than whites. It is to be noted that the African American and Latino/a have a lack of access to mental health treatment in the community. Not only that but also the criminal justice system’s misinterpretation of symptoms of mental illness. 

According to a study, “African American youth were four times more likely than whites to be physically restrained after acting in similarly aggressive ways, suggesting that racial stereotypes of blacks motivated the professional judgment to have them restrained.” Thus, demonstrating racism or bias in the mental health system. Which would therefore explain the over diagnosing with schizophrenia and the under diagnosing with bipolar disorder. Since there are no proper diagnoses, there is ineffective treatment. 

Even though violent crime is down, the juvenile detention centers are beyond capacity. The youth in the detention centers are there because they are waiting for community mental services that are either overloaded or nonexistent. 

Read more about mental health on incarcerated youth of color here

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