As many as 80 percent of young people in the juvenile justice system have been diagnosed as having mental health issues — and many need better treatment. This is particularly true for minorities, who are more likely to be incarcerated and to receive harsher sentences.
Thanks to a $55,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, APA is among the psychological associations that will work together to investigate and call attention to this issue. Known as the Alliance of National Psychological Associations for Racial and Ethnic Equity, the group will study the issues that contribute to disparities in sentencing, including the cultural validity of assessment tools and unequal access to mental health help in minority communities, and the lifelong effects of incarcerating youths, including an increased risk of violence.
Other members of the group are the Asian American Psychological Association, the Association of Black Psychologists, the National Latina/o Psychological Association and the Society of Indian Psychologists.
The group will present its findings to policymakers, to other organizations and at related conferences when it finishes its work in early 2016.
— Stacy Lu