Special Needs Diversionary Program (SNDP)

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The Special Needs Diversionary Program (SNDP) was created in 2001 to provide mental health treatment and specialized supervision in order to rehabilitate juvenile offenders and prevent them from penetrating further into the criminal justice system. The program is administered in a collaborative model by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical and Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI).

In FY 2011, a total of 38.5% of juveniles under supervision were estimated to be mentally ill. Of those juveniles estimated to be mentally ill, only 40% received mental health services that year.

In FY 2011, SNDP served 1,410 juveniles with 19 programs that included 21 departments and 25 counties in Texas.

The most common diagnoses of juveniles participating in SNDP in FY 2011 were Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Other Mood Disorder. A total of 14% had a dual diagnosis involving mental health and substance abuse. 68% of juveniles exiting SNDP in FY 2011 successfully completed the program.

For more information: http://www.tjjd.texas.gov/publications/reports/RPTOTH201102.pdf.