Recidivism and Psychiatric Symptom Outcomes in a Juvenile Mental Health Court

Few researchers have examined outcomes in J uvenile M ental H ealth C ourts. Recidivism rates were assessed among 108 predominantly African American (95.3%) youth. Ages ranged from 12 to 18 ( M  = 15.85, SD  = 1.45). Substantially fewer re‐convictions, along with re‐arrests, were exhibited among the treatment group ( n  = 54) compared to the control group ( n  = 54) after one year of participation or probation supervision. Psychiatric symptomatology among 21 youth was assessed pre‐ and post‐ intervention using the C omprehensive B ehavior R ating S cales‐ S elf R eport. C ohen's d effect sizes indicated substantial reductions in mental health symptoms (.33 ≥  d  ≤ .88). Results are consistent with the previous studies of problem‐solving court efficacy.