The author explains that an increasing number of youths with mental health disorders are seen within the juvenile justice system. Juvenile justice professionals are in a unique position to identify youths who exhibit signs of mental health disorder. The author explains that identifying these at-risk youth is challenging because their behavior could be seen as simply “bad” instead of “sick.” In the second part of this article, the author describes several of the more common mental illnesses in order to facilitate the identification of juveniles who are mentally ill. Among the disorders she discusses are Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Major Depression, Dysthymic Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Mental Retardation, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In conclusion, the author asserts that while mentally ill juveniles should be held accountable for their crimes, they should also receive the treatment they need. References