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A cure for crime: Can mental health treatment diversion reduce crime among youth?

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  • Alison Evans Cuellar

    (Columbia University, New York)

  • Larkin S. McReynolds

    (Columbia University, New York)

  • Gail A. Wasserman

    (Columbia University, New York)

Abstract

Youth crime is a serious social problem, as is the high proportion of young offenders in the juvenile justice system who have mental disorders. A recent policy innovation applies the theory of therapeutic jurisprudence and diverts youth with mental disorders to treatment in lieu of further court processing. The expansion of mental health diversion programs reflects an increasingly popular view that there is a causal relationship between youth mental disorders and crime. Policymakers who share this view place greater emphasis on rehabilitation and treatment as a way to reduce crime, rather than on stricter punishment. This paper considers the policy issues around youth mental health diversion programs. In addition, it evaluates the effect of a mental health diversion program for youth that was implemented in Texas. The paper finds that mental health diversion can be used effectively to delay or prevent youth recidivism. © 2006 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management

Suggested Citation

  • Alison Evans Cuellar & Larkin S. McReynolds & Gail A. Wasserman, 2006. "A cure for crime: Can mental health treatment diversion reduce crime among youth?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(1), pages 197-214.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:25:y:2006:i:1:p:197-214
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.20162
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sascha O. Becker & Andrea Ichino, 2002. "Estimation of average treatment effects based on propensity scores," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 2(4), pages 358-377, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kretschmar, Jeff M. & Tossone, Krystel & Butcher, Fredrick & Marsh, Barbara, 2018. "Examining the impact of a juvenile justice diversion program for youth with behavioral health concerns on early adulthood recidivism," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 168-176.
    2. Mansion, Andre D. & Chassin, Laurie, 2016. "The effect of race/ethnicity on the relation between substance use disorder diagnosis and substance use treatment receipt among male serious adolescent offenders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 237-244.
    3. Ttofi, Maria M. & Piquero, Alex R. & Farrington, David P. & McGee, Tara R., 2019. "Editorial—mental health and crime: Scientific advances and emerging issues from prospective longitudinal studies," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1-2.
    4. Elsa Augustine & Johanna Lacoe & Steven Raphael & Alissa Skog, 2022. "The Impact of Felony Diversion in San Francisco," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(3), pages 683-709, June.
    5. Todd C. Honeycutt & David R. Mann, "undated". "Crime and Parenthood: Factors Affecting the Outcomes of Adolescents With and Without Disabilities," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 0b3a66f4682c4c2cb95badd40, Mathematica Policy Research.
    6. Qiwei He & Scott Barkowski, 2020. "The effect of health insurance on crime: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 261-277, March.
    7. Otsu, Yuki & Yuen, C.Y. Kelvin, 2022. "Health, crime, and the labor market: Theory and policy analysis," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    8. Yotam Shem‐Tov & Steven Raphael & Alissa Skog, 2024. "Can Restorative Justice Conferencing Reduce Recidivism? Evidence From the Make‐it‐Right Program," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 92(1), pages 61-78, January.
    9. Charness, Gary B & Yang, Chun-Lei, 2008. "Endogenous Group Formation and Public Goods Provision: Exclusion, Exit, Mergers, and Redemption," University of California at Santa Barbara, Economics Working Paper Series qt0hx472pn, Department of Economics, UC Santa Barbara.
    10. Deza, Monica & Maclean, Johanna Catherine & Solomon, Keisha, 2022. "Local access to mental healthcare and crime," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    11. Wojciechowski, Thomas, 2020. "The relevance of the dual systems model of self-control for age-related deceleration in offending variety among juvenile offenders," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    12. Monica Deza & Thanh Lu & Johanna Catherine Maclean, 2022. "Office‐based mental healthcare and juvenile arrests," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(S2), pages 69-91, October.

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