The juvenile corrections system tends to focus funding priorities on programming and custodial care rather than on health care. Moreover, there is a societal misconception that many juvenile offenders are violent and should receive maximum penalties for their crimes, with little thought given to how health care will be provided. Another frequent objection to providing health care in juvenile detention facilities involves the notion that young people will not remain institutionalized for a very long period of time. Nonetheless, juvenile inmates require adequate health care, to include treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, emotional or physical trauma, psychiatric disorders, and suicide behavior. Health care problems of juvenile inmates indicate the need for a comprehensive health care delivery system in juvenile correctional facilities. The National Commission on Correctional Health Care has developed standards for this population. Other standards have been promulgated by the American Correctional Association, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the American Public Health Association, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The author concludes the health and social problems of juvenile inmates require improvements in the health care delivery system. 15 references