Justice-Involved Youth

Addressing Behavior, Risk & Healing Beyond the Courtroom

Recognizing Behaviors That Lead to Justice System Involvement

When your child is involved in the justice system, or showing patterns that may lead there, everyday supports often aren’t enough. Youth who are arrested, adjudicated, or repeatedly in trouble at school or home require more than standard outpatient therapy. At Alexander Youth Network, we specialize in intensive, evidence-based treatment for justice-involved youth and teens who need structured, high-level care to change direction and regain control.

Signs to Look For as a Parent

Having a child involved with the juvenile justice system or at risk of being can feel overwhelming. These are warning signs your child may require more than basic supports:

Repeated school suspensions, expulsions, or chronic absenteeism
Escalating conflicts at home with parents/guardians or siblings
Arrests, citations, or charges for delinquency, theft, drug use, or assault
Association with peers who are also justice-involved or high-risk
Ongoing substance use, aggression, or risk-taking behavior (e.g., gang involvement, weapons possession)
Co-occurring mental health issues (trauma history, depression, ADHD, anxiety) that are untreated
Poor response to standard outpatient therapy or school-based supports
Difficulty reintegrating from detention or placement, with repeated setbacks

If your child is showing multiple of these behaviors,especially alongside justice system involvement, they may need an intensive, structured treatment environment with experience treating justice-involved youth.

Why Intensive Intervention Matters for Justice-Involved Youth

Studies show that about 65–70% of youth involved with the juvenile justice system have at least one diagnosable mental health disorder. (cited from Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
A 2024 study found that less than 20% of justice-involved youth with mental health disorders received the treatment they needed in the 16 years following detention. (cited from Northwestern University)
In many states, as many as 80% of youth released from juvenile incarceration are rearrested within three years. (cited from Council of State Governments Justice Center)

These data show that justice involvement is not just a legal matter—it’s a behavioral health and safety matter that demands high-intensity, wrap-around intervention.

How Alexander Youth Network Treats Justice-Involved Youth

Our programs are designed to support justice-involved youth at a high level of intensity—addressing behavior, mental health, school, family, and community all at once:

Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST)

MST is an evidence-based, intensive treatment model built for youth who are justice-involved, school-refusing, or exhibiting complex behavioral problems. It works across home, school, peers, and community to reduce delinquency, improve functioning, and keep youth out of detention or placement.

Day Treatment

For youth returning from detention or struggling in traditional school due to behavior, our Day Treatment program offers structured academic learning and therapeutic services during the school day. It helps youth rebuild academic standing, develop behavioral skills, and re-engage in school success.

Intensive In-Home Services

When the youth remains at home but behavior has escalated post-justice involvement, our IIH clinicians provide in-home, high-frequency therapeutic support. We focus on family engagement, safety planning, skill-building, and reducing high-risk behaviors.

If your child is involved with the juvenile justice system, or you fear they may become involved, and they are showing repeated behavioral or safety issues, it’s time for intensive support. Alexander Youth Network stands ready to help your family navigate this complex journey and get your child back on track.