The AP (3/7, Weissert) reports that 52% “of the young people in Texas’ youth prisons have a moderate or high need for mental health care, and officials should improve their early intervention efforts to help those kids before they end up behind bars, the head of a new state agency told lawmakers Tuesday. Cherie Townsend, executive director of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, said” that just over half “of teens and other youngsters held at the state’s six juvenile detention facilities have been diagnosed with at least moderate mental health problems.” What’s more, “including those with at least some kind of mental health care needs would make that tally much higher, she said.”
Related Links:
— “Mental health issues common among youth prisoners, “Will Weissert, The Associated Press, March 6, 2012.