Incarceration of youth who are waiting for community mental health services in the United States

At the request of Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Sen. Susan Collins, the Special
Investigations Division surveyed every juvenile detention facility in the United
States to assess what happens to youth when community mental health services
are not readily available.
This report, the first national study of its kind, presents the results of the survey.
It covers the period from January 1 to June 30, 2003.
The report finds that the use of juvenile detention facilities to house youth waiting
for community mental health services is widespread and a serious national
problem.