Incarcerating juveniles in adult prisons as a factor in depression

Abstract

Background: While existing research has shown higher prevalence of depression among incarcerated youths compared with non-incarcerated youths, none has studied incarceration as a cause of depression.

Aims/hypothesis: This study suggests that incarceration, in particular placement of youths in adult incarceration, is a factor in developing depression.

Method: A records based comparison of depression among youths in different types of incarceration with non-incarcerated youths, controlling for other predictors of depression, namely offence type, family poverty, parents' history of incarceration and demographic profile.

Results: Youths in adult placements were significantly more likely to be depressed than youths in juvenile placements and community-based youths.

Conclusion and implications: The findings suggest that there are mental health implications against incarcerating youths in adult prisons, a concern that current juvenile justice might not have considered adequately.