“Crossover Youth”

http://jjie.org/crossover-youth-intersection-of-child-welfare-juvenile-justice/
www.cdfohio.org/research-library/2015/crossover-youth-fact-sheet.pdf

Crossover youth is the unique population of children that are involved in both the child welfare system and the juvenile justice system. It is important that the field has distinguished this population and begun to identify how they are unique from those that are involved in just one system or the other. Having both systems involved creates much more complexity in working with these youth. It is important that practitioners and the general society understand how these systems interrelate and why we see youth that are involved with both systems. It is not because they are bad kids that they have become involved in the juvenile justice system, it is because they have experienced things that the average person cannot imagine. They have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, and through those complex issues, they don't know what "normal" is and how to function appropriately in society.  "Abused young people often carry scars of trauma and pain, which can inform delinquent behavior that leads to subsequent contact with the juvenile justice system." Children that have experienced trauma and have not healed are often functioning in a mindset of "survival" in a terrifying world, which may contribute to their involvement in delinquent acts.
Crossover youth suffer higher incidence of drug use and exacerbated mental illness than non-crossover youth. They also have a higher recidivism rate than non-crossover youth, and more than 30 percent have new maltreatment referrals following their arrest. These youth often cycle back through the child welfare system again when they become parents.
The study of crossover youth and practice models is a growing area in the field. These articles call for more and better collaboration among the systems and multi-disciplinary teams to create increased stability and continuity of care for these young people, closing the gap between these systems. Abused and neglected young people come into contact with the justice system due to any number of contributing factors.  For each system to work best, they must first understand whom crossover youth are and develop necessary treatment and support models. This requires child welfare and juvenile justice departments to collaborate on best practices, streamlined case management and more effective data collection. "Abused and neglected young people come into contact with the justice system due to any number of contributing factors.  For each system to work best, they must first understand whom crossover youth are and develop necessary treatment and support models. This requires child welfare and juvenile justice departments to collaborate on best practices, streamlined case management and more effective data collection."