Programmatic Mentoring for LGBTQ+ Youth as Early Prevention for Juvenile Detention

While juvenile arrests have markedly declined over the last decade, LGBTQ+ youth (and particularly those of color) continue to be overrepresented in the juvenile justice system due to a cascade of environmental stressors and systemic factors, including trauma exposure, familial rejection, increased surveillance, disproportionate school suspension, and housing instability. The deleterious effects and economic costs of juvenile detention are well documented. Once detained, sexual and gender diverse (SGD) youth face heightened risk of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Decades of research have demonstrated that community mentoring programs help prevent juvenile delinquency and incarceration. Although the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides funding to mentoring programs, LGBTQ+ youth continue to report a dearth of mentors. This policy brief provides recommendations for mentoring programs to better recruit, include, retain, and serve LGBTQ+ youth.