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Chemical screening for juveniles

Published (3/25/2010)
By Mike Cook
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When a juvenile is found delinquent, a court must order a mental health screening. It may not be the only evaluation.

Sponsored by Rep. Joe Mullery (DFL-Mpls), HF3137 would also require a chemical use screening upon a finding of delinquency. “We want to find out as soon as possible if they have any chemical addictions so that we can start getting them treated right away. That’s the best way to stop them from further crime,” he said.

Approved March 18 by the House Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee, the bill awaits action by the full House. A companion, SF2804, sponsored by Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-St. Paul), awaits action by the full Senate.

Cheryl Kreager, associate director of the Juvenile Justice Coalition of Minnesota, said the bill came from the coalition’s substance abuse work group. “The screening tools that are currently approved by the Department of Human Services to do the mental health screenings can be used for the chemical use screening as well, so we don’t need any additional screening tools, we don’t really need any additional training for this.”

Current screening involves asking general questions about alcohol use and its effect on the person’s life to see if follow-up is needed.

If the score indicates a youth needs a chemical health referral they are referred for a chemical health assessment. “We may end up assessing more kids with chemical health use, but that actually would save us in the long run,” Kreager said.

Kreager said courts are not prohibited from now ordering this screen, but they typically order a chemical health assessment only if the infraction was related to chemical dependency.

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