Adolescent forensic psychiatry

Adolescent forensic psychiatry is a relatively new sub-speciality which deals with young people under the age of 18 who have been involved with the criminal justice system and have a mental disorder. The needs of young offenders are significantly different from adult forensic populations and services are currently developing across England and Wales to meet their needs. The Children’s National Service Framework (NSF) and other statutory requirements have placed greater emphasis on developing services to assess and effectively manage mental disorders in young offenders in a variety of settings, including Local Authority Secure Children’s Homes, Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) and in inpatient settings. Mental illness and disorders in adolescents present differently and are more difficult to diagnose than in the adult population. The majority of offending is committed not by those with serious mental illness but by young people with conduct disorders, and adolescent forensic psychiatrists are involved in the assessment and management of these young people as well as those with developmental disorders and serious and enduring mental illnesses. Adolescent forensic psychiatrists have a role in the education of other professionals involved with this group of young people and also in the development of services for the future.