How can addressing the Overrepresentation of Youth with Disabilities (OYD) in contact with the JJ system prevent or reduce delinquency?
• Identifying youth with disabilities and connecting them and their families to the services they need is more likely to result in these youth being diverted from being adjudicated delinquent and diverted from secure confinement. • Studies have shown that meeting the special education needs of youth with disabilities improves their academic achievement and reduces future contact with the juvenile and criminal justice systems. • Youth who are confined in secure JJ facilities are more likely to engage in future delinquent acts or criminal offenses. Advocacy to divert of youth with disabilities from being incarcerated reduces that risk.
