An important judicial experiment: A new approach to handling Juvenile offenders

JM-4 in D.C. Superior Court isn’t your typical courtroom.

No one is on trial. Defendants, called “respondents,” are surrounded by social workers, psychologists and, often, family members. There’s no mention of the criminal charges against them.

But don’t be deceived. A lot is at stake in JM-4, home of a 14-month-old juvenile court intended to help minors with mental health problems avoid the harsh consequences and limited rehabilitation opportunities in the juvenile system.

Known formally as the juvenile mental health diversion court, it is the latest stop for Magistrate Judge Joan Goldfrank, who has spent much of her career on the bench navigating the intersection of mental health and criminal justice.
Much more (read the story of one girl at the end):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/at-dc-superior-court-program-a-focus-on-helping-minors-with-mental-health-problems/2012/02/27/gIQAR4aTES_story.html

This approach at least offers some concrete help and support. If the cycle isn't broken, these kids will probably end up in and out of jail.
Parents do need help at times. Some problems require more types of intervention than they can provide. The juvenile system now is generally just a holding action until the kids are old enough to be tried in adult court.
I hated it when kids I taught were sent to juvie. They learned how to do more shite and usually returned worse than ever.