Studies have repeatedly shown adults in the criminal justice system have super high rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI), with up to 87% of inmates experiencing some type of blow to the head. As of yet, no one has looked into the prevalence of TBI in the juvenile justice system. Well, until now. I attended a meeting earlier this week about an exciting new project recently launched here in Texas that will screen youth in the juvenile justice system for a history of injuries or medical conditions that resulted in a loss of consciousness or a period of feeling dazed and confused.
Why is this exciting? Researchers say there are many cases where a severe blow to the head can cause trouble long after the injury occurred, including attention or memory problems, impaired judgment, aggression, anxiety, and depression. While most people who experience a TBI recover with no lasting effects, others have symptoms that wreak havoc in their lives, causing them to struggle in school, find or keep a job, get along with others, or end up in jail.
By identifying kids who have a history of TBI and connecting them with treatments tailored to their needs, we can take a big step forward in helping these kids better manage the challenges they face and lead successful lives that keep them out of the criminal justice system. It's my big hope we can take the lessons to be learned from this project and apply them to some other "systems” in the state. How many kids in the foster care system have experienced a TBI? How many students who've had a concussion are struggling in school? I'm joining others across the state and nation who are watching this project with great interest – and a lot of hope.
