ABSTRACT
Both rates of mental disorders and offending are high during adolescence. This chapter reviews the prevalence rates of mental disorders in young offenders, the screening and assessment of juveniles, and the principles of interventions with young offenders. It then goes on to describe the principles of forensic mental health, policy and practice, how mental disorders in adolescence can impact on offending and antisocial behaviour, how policy is shaping practice in this field and how mental health practitioners may be involved in meeting mental health needs and undertaking medico-legal assessments.
