Read and respond to the conclusions drawn by at least two of your classmates.

M5D2: Eligibility for Juvenile Problem-Solving Courts

This activity addresses module outcome 1. Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• MO1: Articulate the tension between law and psychology in response to wrongdoing by persons with mental illness and substance use disorders. (CO1)

Depending upon the type of juvenile problem-solving court, criteria for eligibility might include assessments of the nature and severity of juvenile offending, consent from the juvenile’s guardian, mental health status, public safety, treatment capacity in the local community, and linkage between the diagnosed problem and the offending behavior. In this activity, you will apply what you have learned in this module to the case study of Jack Dwyer, who was profiled in Module 4.

Before beginning this activity, read the following articles.

References:

• Geary, P. (2005). Juvenile mental health courts and therapeutic jurisprudence: Facing the challenges posted by youth with mental disabilities in the juvenile justice system. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics 5(2), 671–711. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/yjhple/vol5/iss2/3 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

• Pearson, S. S., & Jurich, S. (2005). Youth court: A community solution for embracing at-risk youth, a national update. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ncjrs.gov/app/abstractdb/AbstractDBDetails.aspx?id=232726

Drawing upon information presented in the above materials and what you know of Jack Dwyer’s personal, psychological, and delinquency backgrounds (review profile in Module 4), respond to the following questions.

1. Would Jack Dwyer satisfy the eligibility criteria for referral to a juvenile mental health court?

2. Would Jack Dwyer satisfy the eligibility criteria for referral to a youth court?

Support your assertions by citing evidence from course materials.

Post your primary response. Read any postings already provided by your instructor or fellow students. Read and respond to the conclusions drawn by at least two of your classmates. Remember to read the feedback to your own major postings and reply to it throughout the module.