Health issues faced by adolescents incarcerated in the juvenile justice system

Health beliefs and behaviours in relation to sexually transmitted infections among South Korean juvenile offenders: A focused ethnography study

AIM

This study explored health beliefs and behaviours related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from the perspective of juvenile offenders with STIs in three urban cities.

METHODS

Data were collected using observations and in-depth interviews between July and November, 2014. Under the supervision of probation officers, 24 juvenile offenders with STIs were interviewed. Leininger's four-step method guided the data analysis.

FINDINGS

From participants' perspectives, poor hygiene and a promiscuous lifestyle caused the STIs. The diseases were considered an adult disease with distinct symptoms and deformities, no cure, and therefore fatal. STIs were shameful for juveniles because their presence revealed sexually active behaviours. The juveniles' health-related behaviours included neglecting their STI symptoms because they did not know they were infected, mistaking STIs for other health conditions, choosing to suffer rather than revealing their diagnosis, and keeping their genitals clean.

CONCLUSION

A large gap emerged between juveniles' beliefs and behaviours related to STIs. Policies and education are needed to provide accurate STI information for this population.

Physical Activity and Health-Related Fitness of Adolescents within the Juvenile Justice System

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine the physical activity patterns and health-related fitness levels of adolescents within the Juvenile Justice System.

Methods

Participants included 68 adolescents (Mean age = 17.1 ± 1.0 years) in two secure Juvenile Justice correctional facilities in the Western USA. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was monitored for one week using the ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer. Health-related fitness was measured using the FITNESSGRAM test battery.

Results

Adolescents averaged 43.3±21.6 minutes of MVPA per weekday compared to 42.7±27.5 per weekend day. During school hours, adolescents accumulated 17.1±9.0 minutes of MVPA compared to 5.9±3.4 minutes before school and 21.0±13.6 minutes after school. Adolescents averaged 18.9±11.0 push-ups, 44.5±26.4 curl-ups, 34.7±24.8 PACER laps, and 22.1%±10.0% body fat.

Conclusions

Adolescents within the Juvenile Justice System are falling short of the recommended 60 minutes of MVPA per day and 30 minutes of MVPA during school and also need to improve their health-related fitness, especially cardiorespiratory endurance.

The Views of the Public on Youth Offenders and the New Zealand Criminal Justice System

Public perceptions of crime and punishment have taken on increasing importance as countries grapple with how to address youth violence. The current study aimed to compare the views of those who have had personal experience of victimisation from youth offenders and those who have not, on what could be improved in managing youth offending in New Zealand. A qualitative methodology was used with data from open-ended survey responses from a nationally representative sample. Public sentiments favoured addressing systemic issues and providing rehabilitation as main emphases followed by more punitive measures, prevention, and restorative justice. Victims were over-represented on sentiments of prevention whereas non-victims were over-represented in support for more punitive measures and restorative justice. There was also considerable support for a multi-facetted approach that utilised a number of the approaches above, suggesting that the solution is as complex as the offender's circumstances. These findings are very much in line with the current goals of the youth justice system with its emphasis on diversion and rehabilitation.

Adolescents' Perceptions of a Gardening Activity at a Juvenile Justice Center

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to elicit participants' ( N = 16) perceptions of a gardening activity at a juvenile justice center and to determine whether past exposure to gardening and farmers markets was associated with their perceptions of the gardening experience.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional, exploratory program evaluation was conducted in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. Adolescents completing the Cadet Leadership and Education Program participated in gardening in order to provide produce to a local farmers' market.

METHOD

After the growing season, participants were asked to complete a nine-item questionnaire about the gardening activity during one of their usual classes at the facility. The questionnaire assessed perception of the experience and past exposure to gardening and farmers' markets.

FINDINGS

Participants reported favorably about their participation in the activity, knowledge gained from the activity, and their intent to garden in the future. Those who had previously gardened had more favorable perception of gardening than those who had never gardened. Gardening is an inexpensive means of teaching teamwork and delayed gratification and providing a sense of empowerment and may benefit at-risk adolescents during incarceration.

Trajectory of Weight Patterns in Urban Youth Throughout Their Stay in a Juvenile Justice System

Incarceration is associated with health risks including overweight and obesity. This study explored obesity rates and weight gain in incarcerated youth by tracking weight trajectory during continuous stays in juvenile justice facilities. Among 65 youth, mean weight gain was 17.8 pounds and significant, F(2, 12) = 25.44, p = .03. Youth gained an average of 15.6 pounds (standard deviation [ SD] = 3.6) during the initial incarceration period (mean = 71 days). From the assessment to treatment period (mean = 46 days), mean weight gain was 4.1 pounds ( SD = 4.3), which also was significant, F(2, 12) = 28.57, p = .03. Body mass index z-scores increased significantly for each monthly weight observation. Being incarcerated is associated with significant weight gain and should influence policy and planning in this setting.

Overcoming Challenges to Care in the Juvenile Justice System: A Case Study and Commentary

Youth in the criminal justice system commonly suffer from multiple medical and psychological health problems. Because they likely live in lower socioeconomic environments, the medical care they receive through the justice system might be their only recent medical care and can result in the discovery of health problems or chronic illnesses that must be managed while in the system and beyond. We describe the case of an adolescent diagnosed with a serious chronic disease during his time in an urban detention center to illustrate how health workers and justice staff must use a team approach in caring for this vulnerable population of children. Barriers to appropriate care, including social and systems-level challenges, are discussed. The lessons learned in this case can be applied more broadly to other vulnerable youth populations, including those in foster care and impoverished communities where the primary care pediatrician (or other assigned pediatric specialist) is both the leader of the medical team and an advocate for quality care.

Barriers to Independently Accessing Care Among Detention Youth

Youth in juvenile detention suffer from various health disparities that warrant access to health and mental health care. Although adjudicated youth receive health care while detained, many are disconnected from youth-serving institutions that may facilitate access to care when in the community. Examining the unique challenges impacting detention youth’s independent access to health services has the potential to improve health care services for this high-risk population. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 detention youth, and five health professionals serving justice-involved youth to identify barriers preventing detention youth from independently accessing care. Individual-level and structural barriers were identified. Individual-level barriers included youth’s lack of knowledge in a variety of areas, including fear, disinterest, and instability. Structural barriers included clinic restrictions on when patients can access services, challenging scheduling processes, and difficult interactions with clinic staff and providers. Several barriers limiting detention youth’s ability to independently access care were identified. Based on study findings, programs fostering health care utilization among detention youth should address both individual-level factors and structural factors.

Weight patterns of youth entering an urban juvenile justice facility

Adolescents with a history of incarceration face a disproportionate number of health issues compared with their peers in virtually all areas, including perceived well-being; self-esteem; acute, chronic, and psychosocial disorders; and physical activity. Some studies have shown correlates of weight status and incarceration; however, the literature is conflicting. The current study sought to assess weight patterns of primarily minority urban youth (N = 548) entering a juvenile justice facility as well as associations between medications and weight status. Results indicate incarcerated adolescents have higher rates of overweight and obesity (40%) in comparison with nonincarcerated adolescents in the state (20 to 30%) or surrounding community (30 to 34%). Of interest, incarcerated adolescents taking asthma medications have significantly higher rates of overweight and obesity when compared with those not taking asthma medications. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed and implications for future research explored.

Information needs of male juvenile delinquents

This qualitative study provides an overview of what we have learned so far about the information needs of Malaysian male juvenile offenders. This focus is important to consider when designing and delivering the best possible information services to this group. The study seeks to understand juvenile delinquents’ information needs in the prison environment, focusing on their educational needs; online information environment and with the use of electronic resources; their everyday life information seeking (ELIS) needs, in the use of personal sources and prison libraries; in the use of books and other reading materials, and for future life perspectives. Data were collected using unstructured interviews with 23 juveniles (13 to 21 years old) living in four correctional schools in Malaysia. The data analysis revealed a general theme of the purpose of information needs, the location, the information sources, preferred reading materials, preferred language and subjects read. Formal information channels such as the library may be perceived as ineffective by inmates, regardless of their types of information needs and its objective validity. The Internet and informal networks among inmates were the most preferred source of information. Delinquents in the initial stage of imprisonment had significantly greater need for information than those in the final stage. Current findings add to the limited literature the juvenile offenders’ information behavior and that of other youth.

A descriptive study of primary health care practices in Ontario's youth custody facilities

BACKGROUND

Adolescents admitted to youth custody facilities are often in need of physical and mental health care.

OBJECTIVES

To describe primary health care practices in Ontario's youth custody facilities.

METHOD

A questionnaire regarding facility characteristics and primary health care practices was distributed to the directors of all youth custody facilities in Ontario.

RESULTS

Most (87.8%) facilities obtained medical histories after the youth arrived, and 92% used health care professionals to perform that assessment. Intake medical examinations were performed on each youth admitted to custody at 94% of all facilities; however, only 57.2% of facilities reported that these examinations were performed by a doctor within 72 h of admission. Performing suicide assessments on all youth at intake was reported by 77.6% of facilities. Continuous health education was provided by 76% of facilities. Facility type and type of management appear to be related to some areas of health services provision.

CONCLUSIONS

Youth custody facilities in Ontario are providing primary health care services. Weaknesses are, however, evident, particularly in relation to untimely intake medical examinations, failure to provide continuous health education and failure to conduct suicide assessments on all youth at intake. Future research on barriers to health service provision in Canadian youth custody facilities is recommended.