Eraka P.J. Bath

Eraka P.J. Bath, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), holding triple board certification in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry. Since joining UCLA in November 2007, she has served as Director of Child Forensic Services and as the appointed psychiatrist for the Los Angeles County Juvenile Mental Health Court, providing critical leadership in juvenile forensic mental health services.

Her research focuses on evidence-based interventions for legal system-involved youth, particularly juvenile adjudicative competency determinations and risk-reduction strategies. Since 2011, she has spearheaded protocol development for competency assessments in juvenile court and implemented family-based interventions targeting substance use, HIV risk behaviors, and delinquency among transitioning youth probationers. Her work bridges clinical psychiatry with juvenile justice reform through practical, research-driven solutions.

Scientific recognition includes:

• NIH grant for adapting and testing the STRIVE family-based intervention via randomized controlled trial (2012)

Dr. Bath maintains active collaboration with the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court system, consulting on program development and evidence-based practices for youth mental health within legal contexts. Her NIH-funded STRIVE trial represents a significant contribution to reducing health disparities and recidivism among justice-involved adolescents through community reintegration support.