Interactions of Juveniles with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in The Criminal Justice System: A Systematized Review

Background Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) encounter a myriad of barriers and challenges when navigating the complexities of the juvenile justice system. Lack of screening and services for youth with I/DD in the juvenile justice system can have long-term negative effects such as recidivism; involvement with the adult justice system; and negative health, educational, and employment outcomes.Objective The primary objective of this systematized review was to identify gaps in the literature pertaining to the interactions of juveniles with I/DD within the criminal justice system.Methods A systematized literature review was conducted utilizing the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria included articles published between 2013 and 2023, in English, involving youth (under 18) with I/DD in the juvenile justice system.Results Seventy-three articles were identified. Of those, 14 met the inclusion criteria. The studies provide insight into prevalence, offense types, severity, comorbidities, risk factors, recidivism, service provision, and competency to stand trial.Conclusions To our knowledge, no previous systematized review has examined the intersection of youth with I/DD and the criminal justice system. This systematized review functions as an initial comprehensive examination of the existing literature, consolidating and analyzing research related to I/DD in the juvenile justice system. Findings, implications for policy and practice, and future directions are presented.