AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas Center for Criminology and Criminal Justice Research has been awarded a research grant to study how efficiently and effectively juvenile offenders receive rehabilitation and treatment services for mental health and substance abuse problems.
The 12-month grant, awarded to the Center by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, is a collaborative project with the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. The research will focus on assessing how juveniles are referred to services upon contact with juvenile authorities.
The results of this study will help juvenile justice administrators and practitioners more effectively identify those in need of these services and make appropriate referrals to service providers.
Dr. William R. Kelly, director of the Center, said, “It is critical that expensive rehabiliation and treatment resources be used wisely and effectively and key to that is assuring that the right people are matched to the right programs. That is the primary focus of this research.”
