This study analyses the cases of risk-taking behaviour among young adolescents and their subsequent imprisonment from 2002 to 2015. Evidence shows a signiAicant rise in risktaking behaviours among adolescents during this period, resulting in increased detention. The experience of incarceration, particularly for young females, is shown to have profoundly negative psychological consequences. These stem from the loss of freedom, separation from family, exposure to harsh and uncertain environments, and the development of inmate subcultures. The resulting trauma includes heightened anxiety, bullying, distorted mental health, and self-destructive behaviours such as depression, self-injury, and suicidal ideation. The paper calls for a shift towards trauma-informed, rehabilitative approaches in juvenile justice.
