What Happens When We Incarcerate Young Children?

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Currently, the juvenile justice system in Rhode Island has no minimum age requirement for incarceration. As such, even young children in the juvenile justice system have the risk of being exposed to imprisonment. This practice has negative impacts on child development and health later in life. It is also not aligned with current scientific understanding of neurodevelopment. Here, the author outlines the problems associated with this practice and provides an alternative option, which Rhode Island could adopt through its legislature.

Presenters

Jessica Soto

Jessica Soto received her BA from Georgetown University and completed her MD at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her residency training in adult psychiatry at Yale University and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown...

Margaret R. Paccione-Dyszlewski, PhD

Margaret Paccione, PhD, has more than 35 years of experience in supervisory and administrative positions as well as extensive experience with trauma patients and managing trauma-related service environments. As a licensed psychologist, teacher and rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Paccione is the...

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course learners will be able to:

Identify three ways in which the adolescent stage of neurodevelopment functions differently compared to a mature, adult brain.
Describe the association between deviant behavior at a young age and the experience of prior trauma and mental health problems.
Identify the ways in which incarcerating youth may impact their physical and mental health outcomes as an adult.
Explain the role that state legislation has in shaping how youth interact with the carceral system.

Requirements for Successful Completion

For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board. The participant should: read this page of information; view the presentation in its entirety and complete an evaluation form. The evaluation form provides each participant with the opportunity to comment on the quality of the instructional process, the perception of enhanced professional effectiveness, the perception of commercial bias, and his/her views on future educational needs.

This activity is designed to be completed within the time designated on the title page; physicians, psychologists and licensed healthcare workers should claim only those credits that reflect the time actually spent in the activity. There are no prerequisites to participate in this activity or to receive CME/CE credit. In order to receive credit, participants must view the activity and complete the assessment and evaluation form. Statements of Credit are awarded upon successful completion of the assessment with a passing score of ≥ 80%, and evaluation form.

Follow these steps to earn credit:

Read the target audience, learning objectives, and author disclosures.
Study the educational content online or printed out.
Online, choose the best answer to each assessment question. To receive a certificate, you must receive a passing score as designated at the top of the assessment and complete the activity evaluation to provide feedback for future programming.

Contact

Bradley Online Learning
[email protected]

For CME and APA continuing education credits: Release date: January 15, 2024 Valid through: January 14, 2026 Media: Internet Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 60 minutes

For NASW-RI continuing education credits: Release date: May 1, 2025 Valid through: April 30, 2027 Media: Internet Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 60 minutes

The target audience for this course is psychologists, physicians, social workers and other interested health care professionals.
The instruction level for this course is intermediate.
1 CE hour/credit
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation criteria and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Rhode Island Hospital and Bradley Hospital. Rhode Island Hospital is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Rhode Island Hospital designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Rhode Island Hospital is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rhode Island Hospital maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
CEs for this event have been approved by NASW-RI Chapter in accordance with the Regulations of the Rhode Island Social Work Board of Licensure, designating this activity for a maximum of 1.0 continuing education credit. NASW Authorization # RI-9923.

Disclosure of potential relevant financial conflicts of interest within the last 12 months must be made and resolved prior to the date of the CME/CE activity. The intent is to assist learners in assessing the potential for bias in information that is presented during this CME/CE activity.

Jessica Soto has no relevant financial interest or contractual relationships with commercial interest to disclose.

Margaret Paccione-Dyszlewski, Ph.D. has no relevant financial interest or contractual relationships with commercial interest to disclose.

Search for Resources & Information

What Happens When We Incarcerate Young Children?

Jessica Soto

Margaret R. Paccione-Dyszlewski, PhD

Learning Objectives

Requirements for Successful Completion

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