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Qualitative Study of Relationships Among Parenting Strategies, Social Capital, the Juvenile Justice System, and Mental Health Care for At-Risk African American Male Youth

NCJ Number
237497
Journal
Journal of Correctional Health Care Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2011 Pages: 319-328
Author(s)
Joseph B. Richardson, Jr., Ph.D.; Mischelle Van Brakle J.D.
Date Published
October 2011
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article discusses that for poor, African-American families living in the inner city, the juvenile justice system has become a de facto mental health service provider.
Abstract
For many poor, African-American families living in the inner city, the juvenile justice system has become a de facto mental health service provider. In this article, longitudinal, ethnographic study methods were used to examine how resource-deprived, inner-city parents in a New York City community relied on the juvenile justice system to provide their Africa-American male children with mental health care resources. The results of three case studies indicate that this strategy actually contributed to an escalation in delinquency among the youth. (Published Abstract)