Female Juvenile Offenders Incarcerated as Adults

Abstract

• Summary: A pilot study was conducted which examined the development and implementation of a psychoeducational group intervention for young female offenders incarcerated in adult jail. The purpose of the group intervention was to reduce levels of depression, anxiety and trauma symptoms among the female juveniles. T-test analyses were utilized to examine differences between pre-tests and post-tests on the three outcome variables.

• Findings: Findings indicated that the group intervention may be effective in alleviating depression and trauma symptoms among young female offenders. No significant differences between pre-test and post-test were found for anxiety.

• Applications: Due to large caseloads and lack of mental health professionals in the jails and prisons in the United States, young offenders receive little or no mental health treatment when they are incarcerated in the adult jail system. The group intervention described in the current study holds promise for providing a cost-effective and efficient technique for delivering mental health services to this young population of offenders incarcerated in adult jail. If we are concerned about curbing the rising tide of violence among juveniles, we must develop innovative rehabilitation programs to meet the needs of this population of inmates in our jail and prison systems.