Juvenile Mental Health Courts

Juvenile Mental Health Courts (JMHCs) provide case management and support to youth in the juvenile justice system with behavioral health needs.  These courts focus on treatment and rehabilitation, and help to divert youth from juvenile detention facilities to community-based services in their local systems of care.  Policy Research Associates (PRA), which also operates SAMHSA’s GAINS Center, conducted a National Survey of U.S. Juvenile Mental Health Courts.  This national survey resulted in a Psychiatric Services article (PDF 81kb) of the same name, which provides more information about these courts. 

This map is a product of a larger National Institute of Justice-funded  project intended to assess the effectiveness of juvenile mental health courts as a public safety strategy.  Through this initiative, PRA will soon be releasing a Common Elements of Juvenile Mental Health Courts resource guide. For information regarding this soon to be released publication, view the announcement flyer (PDF 462kb).

If you are aware of a new juvenile mental health court or notice an item that needs to be updated, please contact us. 

Place your mouse on a symbol below for the name and location of the court.