“Raise the Age” Laws are Smart for All Involved - From ALEC Publication

Incarcerating juveniles in adult prison facilities was banned in 2002 with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The act was intended to protect juveniles and now only in very limited circumstances can they still be jailed in adult prisons. Importantly, this act does not prevent states from prosecuting juvenile offenders who commit violent crimes such as murder, rape and armed robbery as adults. In essence, the act only applies to housing and detention of juvenile offenders, not charging juvenile offenders. MORE

Bigger need for MST for Emerging Adults (MST-EA/TAY)

Washington Post - Obama Bans Solitary Confinement for Juveniles in Federal Prisons

"Some of the states that championed reforms early, including Washington, have found that prisoners placed in restrictive housing — especially just before their release — are more likely to be repeat offenders. One study found that Washington state prisoners who were confined in solitary had a 20 to 25 percent higher recidivism rate than those in less-restrictive housing, and that those who spent time in solitary directly before reentering society were more likely to commit violent crimes." 

What we now need is for states, local government and insurers to support evidence-based programs that help teens with substance abuse issues and behavior issues. Just as important, they also need to use evidence-based treatments, like MST-EA/TAY, for treating the emerging adults/transitional age youth. Changing the path of these individuals before it's too late is far more cost effective than the long term cost of higher rates of recidivism.

 

Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Young Adults

Recently, Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults (MST-EA) was brought up as one of the "Promising Models for Young Adults under Justice System Supervision.  The original brief, from the Justice Center, The Council of State Governments, was published in November 2015. At it's core, the brief discusses the top - Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Young Adults in the Juvenile and Adult Criminal Justice Systems. 

FULL BRIEF (PDF FILE)

Here are some facts on Young Adults (from this brief) 

Incarceration Rates

■ In 2013, approximately 20 percent of young people incarcerated in the juvenile justice system were between the ages of 18 and 20* and more than half of these young adults (7,044 people) were incarcerated as the result of a serious offense.

■ In 2012, young adults comprised more than 21 percent of admissions (129,274 people) to adult state and federal prisons.

■ Black males ages 18 to 24 comprised nearly 40 percent of all young adults admitted to adult state and federal prisons in 2012, and represented nearly 10 percent of all prison admissions that year.12

Recidivism Rates

■ Recidivism rates for young adults released from prison are significantly higher than for other age groups. One study found that approximately 76 percent of people who were under the age of 25 when released from prison were rearrested within three years, and 84 percent were rearrested within five years.1

 

Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults (MST-EA): Extending Therapy through Vocational Coaching

From the IAYMH Conference in 2013

Emerging adults (EAs) who have serious mental health conditions (SMHCs) and recent justice system involvement are at great risk of re-arrest. Further, their transition to adulthood can be tremendously compromised in functional realms, with a 42% unemployment rate and a 45% high school dropout rate among EAs with SMHC. Likewise, positive engagement in school or work, stable residence, and strong relationships can reduce recidivism.

The full audio of this .. can be found here: http://iaymh-vcl.eppic.org.au/content/multisystemic-therapy-emerging-adults-mst-ea-extending-therapy-through-vocational-coaching