Youth who have contact with the U.S. legal system may be at increased risk for mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, hostility, and psychosis, according to a study published June 17, 2026 in an open access journal. Pro Swan By Raquel V. Oliveira and Elizabeth Clutter of Augusta University, USA.
Previous research shows that both adults and young people with mental health problems are overrepresented in the criminal legal system. For example, it is estimated that 15 to 22 percent of all youth in the United States have a diagnosable mental health condition, while 40 to 80 percent of incarcerated youth have a mental health condition.
To better understand how contact with the criminal legal system is associated with mental health, the study’s authors analyzed data from the Pathways to Desistance study, which followed 1,354 young people sentenced by judges in Phoenix, Arizona, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Participants were first interviewed between November 2000 and January 2003, when the teens were between 14 and 18 years old, with follow-up interviews conducted over a seven-year period. The authors investigate whether different types of contact with the legal system, such as arrest, court appearance, and institutionalization, are associated with anxiety, depression, hostility, and psychotic symptoms.
Experiencing an arrest was associated with worse short-term mental health, including increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and psychosis. Institutionalization was also associated with increased symptoms of depression, hostility, and psychosis in the short term. Although going to court had only a short-term association with reduced anxiety (perhaps indicating relief from the uncertainty that had built up leading up to the court appearance), there was a significant long-term association with increased anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
In their analysis, the authors found that having two or more simultaneous contacts with the justice system was associated with more consistent long-term effects on mental health symptoms. They also point out, not surprisingly, that other factors associated with worsening mental health symptoms include drug use, participation in crime, and taking mental health medications (which are likely to help treat these symptoms).
The Pathways to Desistance study covers a limited number of drug offenses among men and is no longer representative of all offenses nationwide. Furthermore, this study can only identify associations rather than causal factors. Nevertheless, the authors suggest that contact with the criminal legal system can be a stressor for youth, which can influence mental health symptoms that can last for years into the future.
The authors add: “Our findings are consistent with previous research and highlight the importance of a continued focus on diversion programs and appropriate mental health supports for youth who come into contact with the criminal legal system.””
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Reference magazines:
Oliveira, RV & Culatta, E., (2026) The impact of differential contact with the criminal legal system on adolescent and young adult mental health outcomes: A fixed effects model. PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0344895. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0344895
