n your readings this week, we begin discussing mental health issues, practices and approaches in addressing delinquency.  As we’ve covered waivers and age of culpability, this week’s readings/discussions should hopefully provide more insight into how we should address juveniles who suffer from mental health illnesses, to include trauma, etc.

• In reviewing the readings, you will see that a high number of adolescents adjudicated suffering from mental disorders, substance abuse issues and some aspect of trauma.  Knowing this, do you feel that the juvenile justice system/courts does an adequate job in addressing those areas?
• Understanding that juveniles do suffer from various aspects of trauma, addiction or mental disorders, how much do you purport that goes into dispositions (sentencing).  Further, if such areas are identified, should juveniles be then treated differently?  Aren’t adult offenders who are deemed mentally disabled (depending on disorder/medication/tx, etc.) viewed differently in the eyes of the court?
• What is your analysis in how the authors conveyed mental health, trauma, etc. in reference to juvenile delinquency? Do you purport that even with some trauma, other aspects contribute to delinquency?