New article alert: Self-directed violence in juvenile facilities

Dr. Cavanagh's latest article, Youth Perceptions of Juvenile Justice Facility Staff: Associations With Self-Directed Violence Among Juvenile Detainees, is out now in Criminal Justice & Behavior.

Youth in juvenile justice facilities are at high risk of self-directed violence (SDV). Among community youth, positive adult relationships reduce the risk of SDV. Do positive relationships with facility staff reduce the likelihood of SDV among detained youth?

Accounting for juvenile facility characteristics and practices, youth perceptions of staff are marginally associated with decreased rates of SDV over time. Use of restraints (for reasons other than suicidality) was associated with increased SDV.

Reducing SDV among justice-involved youth is particularly important given the ongoing youth mental health crisis. When we choose to incarcerate children, we have a mandate to attend to their safety as strictly as possible. To this end, it is important that juvenile facilities are staffed with caring, well-trained adults who can serve as (developmentally-necessary) safe bases for kids. Furthermore, use of restraits is not advised.