Clinical and forensic outcomes from the Illinois mental health juvenile justice initiative.

Objective: To address the mental health needs of youths who are arrested and detained in Illinois, an initiative was designed and implemented that identified youths with psychotic or affective disorders, linked them to community services, and monitored their cases. This study assessed whether such linkage is possible and whether it improves clinical and forensic outcomes.

Method: S: Under the initiative, court staff refer youths who may have a mental illness to a clinical liaison.