Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu, Acting U.S. Surgeon General; J. Robert Flores, OJJDP Administrator; Edwin Meese, III, Rector, George Mason University Board of Directors.
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on Health Care in the Juvenile Justice System
On March 9, 2007, OJJDP and the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, held a national invitational workshop on health care in the juvenile justice system at George Mason University, Fairfax County, Virginia. Participants included 55 representatives from agencies and organizations with expertise in health care matters related to the juvenile justice system, as well as researchers and clinicians, policymakers, practitioners, and public health officials with a focus on children and adolescents.
In his opening remarks, OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores stressed the importance of a partnership between the juvenile justice and public health communities. He noted:
When I look at the system, one of the things that is clear to me is that at this point in time we have tremendous control over the youth in our custody. We tell them when to go to bed, when to wake up, when to go to school, and when they can watch TV. We need to look at this not only as an opportunity to provide basic health care, but also as an opportunity to educate youth on how to maintain better health practices.
Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese, III, currently rector of the George Mason University Board of Directors, welcomed workshop participants to the university. Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu, Acting U.S. Surgeon General, was the keynote speaker; excerpts from his remarks appear at the end of this article.
The workshop was facilitated by Charles Curie, former Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
During the workshop, participants examined questions such as:
- What physical and mental health problems challenge children and adolescents in the juvenile justice system?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare infrastructure in the juvenile justice system?
- What legal, administrative, and structural barriers are faced by the agencies?
- What standards and guidelines are in place for health care at each stage of the system?
- What is the appropriate role of the Federal Government in working with States to address basic public health needs in the juvenile justice system?
- What research priorities will support data-driven, evidence-based approaches to health care in the juvenile justice system?
Children and adolescents in the juvenile justice system represent a substantial public health concern. On an average day, approximately 100,000 young people are housed in juvenile justice residential facilities and about one-half million are on court-ordered community supervision. An additional 100,000 young people are on informal probation supervision. These young people are medically underserved in the community; they are underinsured and are less likely to have a "medical home."
For these youth, incarceration is an opportunity to access the support they need for their longstanding health conditions—including substance abuse problems and infectious diseases. This is important work for protecting society because individuals move from the community, through the juvenile justice system, and back into the community in a relatively short timeframe. Providing effective health care interventions helps to ensure that diseases are limited or eliminated before they reach back to homes and communities.
I know everyone in this room cares deeply about how to improve the health of adolescents involved with the justice system. My hope is that we find better ways to collaborate and partner with one another to ensure that juveniles in the juvenile justice system are provided quality health care and disease prevention services.
Please continue to create partnerships, share experiences, and strengthen the bridge between the juvenile justice community and other Federal agencies. Our ability to collaborate and build on our strengths through partnerships will make a tremendous difference.
—Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu
Acting U.S. Surgeon General
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