Leen Cappon

Mental health in juvenile judges' decision-making: Review of literature

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the (strength of the) association between mental health aspects in juvenile offenders and the decision-making process of the juvenile judge. In particular, the presence of a mental disorder in the juvenile offender, the presence of a mental health report, and the mental health orientation of the juvenile judge were studied. METHODS A literature review was performed in order to identify relevant studies on the basis of three selection criteria: (i) the decision-making process of the juvenile judge concerning juvenile offenders, (ii) the use of quantitative methodology and (iii) the focus on the three mental health aspects. RESULTS Eight studies were found to meet the criteria (n=4318). The association between a mental disorder in the juvenile offender, a mental health report, and the decision of the juvenile judge was rather strong. There was no evidence of an association between mental health orientation of the juvenile judge and his/her decision. DISCUSSION Mental health aspects seem to be associated with the decision-making process of the juvenile judge. Future research should further examine the association between these aspects and the decision of the juvenile judge, particularly in the subgroup of juvenile offenders with mental disorders.

The blurred vision of Lady Justice for minors with mental disorders: Records of the juvenile court in Belgium

PURPOSE This study examined (1) the information present in juvenile court records in Belgium (Flanders) and (2) whether there are differences in information between records that mention a mental disorder and those that do not. METHOD The file study sample included 107 court records, and we used a Pearsons chi-square test and a t-test to analyze the information within those records. RESULTS Information in juvenile court records varied considerably. This variability was evident when we compared juvenile court records with and without mention of a mental disorder. Significantly more information about school-related problems, the functioning of the minor, and the occurrence of domestic violence was included in records that mentioned a mental disorder compared with records that did not. CONCLUSION The content of the juvenile court records varied, particularly with regard to the mental health status of the minor in question. We suggest guidelines to standardize the information contained in juvenile court records.