U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Juvenile Delinquency: Is the Criminal Justice System Overlooking a Contributing Factor to Criminal Behavior?

NCJ Number
157583
Author(s)
J B Keith
Date Published
1995
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the research on attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and concludes that diagnosing and treating juveniles with ADHD at a very young age will reduce the number of offenders from this population, thereby reducing costs to the criminal justice system and the number of inmates.
Abstract
Research indicates a positive correlation between juveniles with ADHD and juvenile delinquency. It is also well known that delinquent and criminal behavior usually originates in early childhood and that antisocial behavior, once firmly established, is notoriously resistant. ADHD is a neurobiological disability that affects up to 5 percent of all children, and possibly twice as many. It is increasingly recognized as a disorder that persists in half of young adults diagnosed as having it in childhood. Diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation by a psychologist and a physician. Treatment consists of a multimodal approach including parent training in behavior modification techniques, working with the school family counseling, and medication. One study revealed that 55 percent of a sample of adjudicated juvenile delinquents had ADHD; another revealed that ADHD posed a significant additive influence on the development and persistence of juvenile delinquency. Therefore, schools, health providers, and the justice system should work together to address this problem; all juvenile offenders should be evaluated for ADHD, and parents of diagnosed children should receive training and counseling. Reference notes