DB Post Response Original Prompt: Research has supported the idea that children and adolescents who have been involved in the legal system will have or already have developed a mental disorder precipitating or following their involvement in the legal system. What is the importance of exploring the impact of the legal system on behavioral and mental health development? Prompt Response: Respond to both students post individually. Read through each post and provide feedback agreeing or disagreeing. Why? Offer an alternative view, if applicable. Student 1: The legal system has a purpose of keeping things in check. Although there is a positive purpose, the negative side of the legal system shouldn't be ignored. When it comes to children who are involved in the legal system, there is an issue concerning the quality of life- or mental and behavioral state of the child. The development of a mental or behavioral disorder, for a child, can be precipitating or following their involvement with the legal system. A study was conducted to analyze the evidence of mental illness in children in the foster and regular community. It was found that: Children within the foster care system are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than those outside of the system (Dubois-Comtois et al., 2021, p. 8). This is a clear sign of mental or behavioral issues occurring after engagement with the legal system. It is also worth noting that "Once a child enters the juvenile system it is usually extremely difficult to receive adequate mental health treatment due to a lack of government resources" ("Conduct Disorders", n.d., para. 6). The lack of resources only further detriments the issue. The importance of exploring the legal system's impact on behavior and mental health development is to improve the system. By improving the system, the bigger worry can be aided improving the mental and behavioral health of children and adolescents who get themselves tangled into the system (whether by will or force). If the impact of the legal system wasn't explored, there lies a risk of further decline in children's health. With mental issues comes behavior that could be harmful for the individual and those around them. Therefore, it's important to analyze all impacts- especially the legal system on a child's life. Ignoring the legal systems impact on children's mental health could also set the society behind other societies. Children are the future. They deserve to be protected and looked out for even if that means against the system that is meant to protect and consider their well-being. Student 2: When you are dealing with children who have been involved with the legal system, you must be aware of trauma and PTSD. Many children who have to deal with the legal system are in that situation due to abusive parents or parents that abuse drugs. Both of these situations could affect a child negatively without anyone knowing. If this child is left to process all of this themselves, it normally leads to mental health conditions. Some conditions seen that could be due to this is anxiety, depression, ODD, RAD, personality disorders along with others. Being trauma informed and being the child's advocate is the first positive steps to help lessen the severity of the mental health conditions that could arise from these situations.