May 21, Juvenile Justice & DBT

As the state correctional system grapples with the future of Wisconsin’s youth correctional facilities, a new therapy could transform the way juvenile offenders are treated. Supporters of dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, say the treatments could make a world of difference for both youth and staff at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, creating more positive outcomes for offenders. But corrections officials say implementing DBT will require a major cultural change that will pose significant challenges for staff at the Lincoln County facilities.

Shereen Siewert welcomes Wisconsin Department of Corrections Juvenile Administrator Ron Hermes, and Dr. Lesley Baird Chapin, who is certified in DBT and leading its implementation at the two youth facilities, to discuss the impact the therapy could have on juvenile offenders and the entire juvenile justice system in Wisconsin.