Traumatic Brain Injury in the Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice Systems
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recognized that Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the juvenile justice and criminal Justice systems is an important public health problem.
Many people in prisons and jails are living with traumatic brain injury(TBI)- related problems that complicate their management and treatment while they are incarcerated. Because most prisoners will be released, these problems will also pose challenges when they return to the community.
Many youth are also living with TBI related problems that complicate their management and treatment when they are processed through the court system or adjudicated. Undiagnosed or misdiagnosed TBI may lead to inappropriate intervention. These problems will also pose challenges when youthful offenders remain or return to the community.
Many people in prisons and jails are living with traumatic brain injury(TBI)- related problems that complicate their management and treatment while they are incarcerated. Because most prisoners will be released, these problems will also pose challenges when they return to the community.
Many youth are also living with TBI related problems that complicate their management and treatment when they are processed through the court system or adjudicated. Undiagnosed or misdiagnosed TBI may lead to inappropriate intervention. These problems will also pose challenges when youthful offenders remain or return to the community.
What is known about TBI in the Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice Systems?
- More than two million people currently reside in U.S. prisons and jails.1
- According to jail and prison studies, 25-87% of inmates report having experienced a head injury or TBI 2-4 as compared to 8.5% in a general population reporting a history of TBI. 5
- According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), TBI is reported at a higher rate among children and teens who have been convicted of a crime, and national and state date and numerous recent reports document the problem of TBI in juvenile justice systems, prisons and jails.
Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice Resources
Two Key Reports by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Alabama Head Injury Program:
- REPORT: Traumatic Brain Injury and Juvenile Justice
- REPORT: Traumatic Brain Injury and Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice Systems
Traumatic Brain Injury in Prisons and Jails: An Unrecognized Problem (CDC)
https://www.nashia.org/pdf/hotopics/tbi_prisons_factsheetc_cdc.pdf
References
1. Department of Justice (US), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Prison and jail inmates at midyear 2005 (online) 2006 (cited 2006 May 22). Available from URL: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/pjim05.pdf.
2. Schofield PW, Butler TG, Hollis SJ, Smith NE, Lee SJ, Kelso WM. Traumatic brain injury among Australian prisoners: rates. recurrance and sequelae. Brain Injury 2006;20(5):499-506.
4. Morrell RF, Merbitz CT, Jain S, Jain, S. Traumatic brain injury in prisoners. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 1998;27(3-4):1-8.
5. Silver JM, Kramer R, Greenwald S, Weissman M, The association between head injuries and psychiatric disorders: findings from the New Haven NIMH Epidemiological Catchment Area Study. Brain Injury 2001;15:935-45
