A Qualitative Exploration of Justice System Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Disproportionate Minority Contact and Behavioral Health Access among System-Involved Youth of Color

Authors

Tiffany D. Baffour, University of UtahFollow
Dawn X. Henderson, Village of WisdomFollow
Denise Nation, Winston-Salem State UniversityFollow
Pedro M. Hernandez, Jackson State UniversityFollow

Keywords

Mental health access, disproportionate minority contact, behavioral health, juvenile justice system, BIPOC youth, social determinants of behavioral health, justice-involved youth

Abstract

Previous research demonstrates that system-involved youth of color experience procedural and structural biases within the U.S. juvenile justice system. These biases and disparities are evident in behavioral health access and treatment. This study examined justice stakeholders’ (social workers, therapists, court counselors, judges, and school resource officers) perceptions of barriers and facilitators to behavioral health treatment among youth of color in the juvenile justice system. This qualitative exploratory study examined data from six focus groups comprising statewide stakeholders (n = 55) from a southeastern state. Results showed that the stigma associated with behavioral health treatment and the incapability of juvenile justice system policies to address mental health were significant themes.

Recommended Citation

Baffour, Tiffany D.; Henderson, Dawn X.; Nation, Denise; and Hernandez, Pedro M. (2022) "A Qualitative Exploration of Justice System Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Disproportionate Minority Contact and Behavioral Health Access among System-Involved Youth of Color," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 49: Iss. 2, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.4562
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol49/iss2/2