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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.122937v1 99/6/1032    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Belenko, S. Articles by Salvatore, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Belenko, S. Articles by Salvatore, C. Related Collections Health Policy Other Health Service Delivery HIV/AIDS Adolescent Health Sexual Health

Steven Belenko, PhD, Richard Dembo, PhD, Matthew Rollie, MPH, Kristina Childs, MA and Christopher Salvatore, MA

Steven Belenko and Christopher Salvatore are with the Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. Richard Dembo and Kristina Childs are with the Department of Criminology, University of South Florida, Tampa. Matthew Rollie is with the Department of Public Health, University of South Florida.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Steven Belenko, PhD, Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, 1115 West Berks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 (e-mail: sbelenko{at}temple.edu).

Studies of detained and incarcerated adolescent offenders in the United States indicate that these juveniles have an elevated risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, many more arrestees enter the "front end" of the juvenile justice system than are detained or incarcerated, and research into the STD risk profiles and service needs of this larger group is lacking. An expansion of STD testing (including of asymptomatic youths), prevention, and treatment is needed, as is improved knowledge about gender- and race-specific services. A pilot program in Florida has shown that juvenile justice and public health systems can collaborate to implement STD testing among new arrestees. With integrated linkages to treatment and prevention after release, this model could greatly reduce the STD burden in this underserved, high-risk population.