The Prediction of Criminal Recidivism in Juveniles (original) (raw)
Delinquent Careers Behind Bars
Criminal Justice Review, 2010
There is an increasing recognition that incarceration time, instead of a period characterized by intermittency or lulls in offending, is for many a period of continued involvement in misconduct and other problematic behaviors. Yet, despite mounting evidence on the offending patterns of incarcerated adults, little research attention has been paid to the institutional behavior of incarcerated delinquents. The current research explored the institutional misconduct careers of 2,520 serious and violent delinquent offenders incarcerated in a large southern juvenile correctional system. Analyses revealed that the study cohort engaged in more than 200,000 instances of minor misconduct behaviors and nearly 19,000 instances of major misconduct behaviors during their incarceration. Multivariate analyses examining the incidence of major, minor, and assaultive institutional misconduct revealed that offenders with more extensive delinquent backgrounds had an increased expected rate of misconduct, net the effects of a number of variables. Implications for research and practice are explored.
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 2012
This study investigated the interrelations among mental health problems, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), age, ethnicity, gender, and recidivism over a three-year period in a sample of 417 male and 170 female juvenile offenders. At the time of first admission to a juvenile detention center, boys reported higher alcohol/drug use, whereas girls reported greater anger/irritability. Caucasian offenders evidenced higher rates of alcohol/drug use and somatic complaints than African American offenders. Younger age was related to higher levels of anger/irritability and depression/anxiety, although older adolescents with PTSD reported the highest levels of alcohol/drug use, anger/irritability, somatic complaints, and depression/anxiety. Across multiple admissions to detention, alcohol/drug use increased for all youth, whereas somatic complaints decreased for boys only. Younger offenders were more likely to recidivate than older offenders; however, girls and younger African American youth with PTSD were more likely to reoffend than were their peers.
Weapon Carrying in Israeli Schools: The Contribution of Individual and School Factors
Health Education & Behavior, 2006
The present study employed an ecological perspective to examine the relative predictive power of individual and school contextual factors on weapon carrying at school. The study is based on a nationally representative sample of 10,400 students in Grades 7 through 11 in 162 schools across Israel. Hierarchical logistic modeling examined the relationships between students and school-level variables and carrying weapons to school (guns, knives, and other weapons). The authors found that school context is associated with weapon carrying and increases the likelihood of having students with weapons in the school. For instance, schools with a large proportion of students from low-socioeconomic status (SES) families showed higher levels of weapon carrying. Furthermore, individual factors, such as victimization and fear, are positively associated with weapon carrying in school. The discussion highlights the importance of improving school climate to deal more effectively with weapon carrying to school.
International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 2012
136 VILJOEN ET AL. suicide, victimization, substance abuse, unauthorized leave, self-neglect, general offending); 2) it places a balanced emphasis on adolescents' strengths and vulnerabilities; 3) it focuses on dynamic factors that are relevant to short-term assessment, risk management, and treatment planning; and 4) it is designed for both mental health and justice populations. We describe the developmentally-informed approach we took in the adaptation of the START for adolescents, and outline future steps for the continuing validation and refinement of the START:AV.
Child & Youth Care Forum, 2011
The legal files of 144 juveniles charged as adults in one Pennsylvania county were reviewed to investigate whether trauma-related information was included in evaluations of amenability to treatment and how that information related to legal decisions to keep youth in criminal court or decertify them to the juvenile system. Potentially traumatic experiences (PTEs) were noted in more than 71% of evaluations. Youth with any PTE documented were more likely to remain in criminal court, have more prior arrests, report regular marijuana use, and have mental health diagnoses associated with offending behaviors. Youth with direct (versus witnessed) exposure to PTEs were more likely to have been placed out of home and to be diagnosed with other mental health disorders. However, only 6% of the evaluations specifically recommended treatment for trauma-related issues, and documentation of PTEs was not associated with the ultimate legal decision except in cases involving severe injury.
Criminal recidivism of incarcerated male nonviolent offenders in Hong Kong
International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 2015
Criminal recidivism of the incarcerated population in Hong Kong has rarely been studied. The purpose of this study is to explore the recidivism rates and to identify significant predictors of reoffending among incarcerated male offenders convicted of a nonviolent offense in Hong Kong. Using a self-reported methodological design, 278 offenders were sampled. These offenders' immediate past incarceration is used as the benchmark for this recidivism study. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year recidivism rates are 21%, 68%, and 87%, respectively. The findings denote that offending history, psychological attributes, interpersonal relationships, and environmental influences are significant reoffending risk factors. These findings, especially the alarming failure rates, highlight the need to seriously assess the effectiveness of intervention strategies used by the Hong Kong correctional system in preventing future offending. Implications for intervention strategies with emphasis on the risk factors f...
Recidivism in subgroups of serious juvenile offenders: Different profiles, different risks?
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 2012
Background Research has shown that the treatment of juvenile offenders is most effective when it takes into account the possible risk factors for re-offending. It may be asked whether juvenile offenders can be treated as one homogeneous group, or, if they are divisible into subgroups, whether different risk factors are predictive of recidivism.
Risk factors for overall recidivism and severity of recidivism in serious juvenile offenders
International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 2011
This study was aimed at finding risk factors that predict both overall recidivism and severity of recidivism in serious juvenile offenders. Seventy static and dynamic risk factors associated with family characteristics, peers, psychopathology, substance abuse, psychological factors, and behavior during treatment were assessed with the Juvenile Forensic Profile in a sample of 728 juvenile offenders. Official reconviction data were used to register recidivism with a minimum time at risk of 2 years. Severity of offending was categorized according to the maximum sentence for the offense committed combined with expert opinion. Several risk factors for recidivism were found: past criminal behavior (number of past offenses, young age at first offense, unknown victim of past offenses), conduct disorder, family risk factors (poor parenting skills, criminal behavior in the family, a history of physical and emotional abuse), involvement with criminal peers, and lack of treatment adherence (agg...
Residential Treatment For Children & Youth, 2013
The purpose of this study is to investigate the static and dynamic risk factors for re-arrest among detained youth by examining gender, race/ethnicity, age, special education and mental health variables (i.e., anger/irritability, depression/anxiety, somatic complaints, suicide ideation, thought disturbances, and traumatic experiences). The demographic profiles of detained youth with one admit were also compared with those with multiple admits to the juvenile detention center. With regards to static risk factors, older, white, and special education were significantly at risk of rearrest. Concerning dynamic risk factors, only anger/irritability predicted re-arrest. Practice implications are also discussed.
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 2014
This study examines the case of GH, an 18-year-old Latino male participating in an employment-based delinquency intervention for gang-affiliated youth. Although postintervention measures revealed that GH showed gains on key outcomes (i.e., delinquency, employment), he experienced sporadic treatment setbacks (e.g., work absenteeism, fighting) that disrupted his progress. A comprehensive psychological assessment suggested that his aggressive, illegal behavior and difficulty maintaining employment could have been influenced by previously undiagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Excerpts from counseling sessions illustrated how reactive aggression, hypervigilance, sleep disruptions, and emotional numbing could have interfered with treatment gains and ultimately contributed to GH's re-arrest. Implications for early,
Recidivism of Juvenile Homicide Offenders
Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 2011
Serious offenses against persons perpetrated by juveniles raise fundamental questions about the background, causes, and prevention of future crime. The current study addresses the potential of future crime of all juvenile homicide offenders ( JHOs) in the Netherlands in the period 1992-2007. In contrast to former research on recidivism of JHOs, which has been merely descriptive, the present study integrates theoretical perspectives as to why some of these juveniles turn back to crime, while others do not. To this end, relationships are investigated between recidivism behavior and risk factors. Results indicate that male JHOs, and JHOs who maintain relationships with delinquents, run a greater risk of reoffending.
Economic Impact on the Justice System from Reductions in Diversion Program Funding
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 2005
Following a national trend of "getting tough" on increased juvenile crime, the Florida legislature eliminated one of the primary community service-oriented juvenile diversion programs, the Juvenile Alternative Services Program (JASP). JASP was subsequently replaced with four other diversion programs, two of which (the Walker Plan and an expanded Arbitration program) permitted greater penetration into the juvenile justice system. In a previous paper, we examined the impact of net-widening effects of diversion programs on youth participant recidivism for a six-month post-program period resulting from this shift in program funding. The results indicated that youths placed in the JASP program had significantly lower rates of new arrests and new arrest charges than each of the other four diversion programs. One of the consequences of the net-widening effects reported in this previous study could be an increase, rather than decrease, in the direct costs of a number of key justice services. The present study examines this issue by presenting the results of an economic impact analysis focusing on the direct costs incurred by various justice system agencies resulting from the youths' recidivism during the six-month post-program period. Stepwise multiple regression analyses predicting the cumulative cost (adjusted for inflation and overhead expenses) of providing justice services to the youths found that JASP had a lower direct cost rate with respect to the justice system than any of the JASP alternative programs. These findings, combined with those of our previous study, run contrary to one of the major concerns of policy makers: attaining better outcomes among
Justice Quarterly, 2013
Little is known about the effects of treatment attrition on juvenile recidivism, particularly with regard to community-based treatment. Compounding this gap in the literature is a lack of studies that have disaggregated recidivism offense type or type of treatment attrition. These distinctions are believed to have both theoretical implications for understanding recidivism and practical implications for engaging youths in community-based programs. The current study analyzes a sample of 5,517 male juvenile offenders adjudicated within Philadelphia between 1996 and 2002 to determine the effects of treatment attrition, either due to dropping out or expulsion, on juvenile recidivism, distinguished in terms of property, violent, or drug offenses. Results indicate that voluntarily dropping out of treatment significantly increases the likelihood of recidivism through drug and property offending, while expulsion from treatment significantly increases the likelihood of a violent recidivism offense, suggesting that the causes of treatment attrition and reoffending may be related.
Elevated risk of incarceration among street-involved youth who initiate drug dealing
Harm reduction journal, 2016
Street-involved youth are known to be an economically vulnerable population that commonly resorts to risky activities such as drug dealing to generate income. While incarceration is common among people who use illicit drugs and associated with increased economic vulnerability, interventions among this population remain inadequate. Although previous research has documented the role of incarceration in further entrenching youth in both the criminal justice system and street life, less is known whether recent incarceration predicts initiating drug dealing among vulnerable youth. This study examines the relationship between incarceration and drug dealing initiation among street-involved youth. Between September 2005 and November 2014, data were collected through the At-Risk Youth Study, a cohort of street-involved youth who use illicit drugs, in Vancouver, Canada. An extended Cox model with time-dependent variables was used to examine the relationship between recent incarceration and in...
A Process Evaluation of Toronto’s First Youth Mental Health Court1
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice/La Revue canadienne de criminologie et de justice pénale, 2015
Youth mental health courts are a relatively new type of specialty court designed to address the mental health needs of justice-involved youth, usually with the ultimate goal of desistance from future offending. As part of a process evaluation of Toronto's first youth mental health court, court records and files for 127 youth who participated in the program from its inception in 2011 until August 2013 were reviewed to: 1) describe the operation of the court and the clients it serves, 2) explore predictors of successful court completion, and 3) examine how the court addresses the mental health and criminogenic needs of its clients. Most clients successfully completed the court requirements, with case processing time comparable to 'traditional' youth courts; completers were more likely than non-completers to have a mental health diagnosis and higher initial treatment motivation. Half of youth received treatment targeted to their identified mental health needs. Analysis of a subsample of cases indicated that for most youth, mental health issues were indirectly related to their offences, indicating the need to address criminogenic needs in addition to mental health needs in the court. Findings are discussed with regards to best practice for treating justice-involved youth with mental health needs.
The appraisal of violence risk
Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 2002
Purpose of review: Public concern about violence by the mentally ill means that mental health professionals are increasingly called upon to assess the risk of violence in a wide range of client populations. The past year, like the previous few, has seen an increase in the number of articles on the topic. Recent findings: The evidence favouring actuarial methods for appraising the risk of violence is increasing. There are, however, some professionals who still argue against their use, especially their exclusive use. One of the liveliest debates is the extent to which dynamic variables, especially those to do with treatment, can add to static variables in the prediction of violence. The available evidence suggests that dynamic predictors contribute little to the question of who is at greatest risk, but might be valuable in predicting when an individual at high risk is likely to offend. Several papers in the past year have compared the accuracy of two or more actuarial or other prediction instruments. Surprisingly, instruments often show little variation in predictive accuracy, although actuarial instruments frequently outperform non-actuarial instruments. Several articles have examined predictors of violence among civilly committed patients and other subgroups of violent individuals. Schizophrenia and psychotic symptomatology have been found to be negatively, if at all, related to future violence. The predictors of violence appear to be common across subgroups, follow-up periods, and definitions of violent recidivism. Summary: Risk assessments using empirically validated instruments can enhance public safety without increasing the number of individuals detained.
Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 2015
Recidivism is a challenge for the Brazilian socio-educational system because it is associated with personal, social and environmental factors, especially among juvenile offenders. This study examined key characteristics and potential association with recidivism in 391 female adolescent offenders from a correctional institution in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, between 2004 and 2011. Cross-sectional data on socio-demographics, drug use and offense characteristics from institutional information were examined. Associate factors with recidivism were examined using negative binomial regression analyses. 32.5% of offenders were recidivists at present admission and the mean frequency of recidivism among recidivists was 2.16. About half (53.6%) of the sample reported drug use. After the adjustment, recidivism was positively associated with: age; offender’s drug use; residence status; offense type; and no family drug use. Factors associated with juvenile offenders’ recidivism confirm fi...
Youth Drug Offenders: An Examination of Criminogenic Risk and Juvenile Recidivism
Corrections, 2016
Understanding the criminogenic risk factors and treatment needs of juvenile drug offenders is important because of the myriad negative outcomes that befall juveniles that are involved in drugs. A widely used juvenile risk assessment tool, the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) was utilized to explore criminogenic risk factors and treatment needs to predict recidivism. Demographic differences between drug and nondrug offenders were also examined. Results suggested that of the eight YLS/CMI domains, the substance abuse domain was not predictive of recidivism for juvenile drug offenders. However, peer relationships and attitudes significantly predicted future recidivism, suggesting that case planners should pay particular attention to these domains when designing a treatment plan for this group. Cox Regression Hazard Modeling was also used to estimate risk for recidivism among juvenile drug offenders as compared to other juvenile offenders. Results revealed that while juvenile drug offenders had a significantly higher score for substance use, they were not more likely to recidivate than nondrug offenders. Implications are discussed.
Predictive validity of self‐reported self‐control for different forms of recidivism
Journal of Criminal Psychology, 2012
PurposeThis study aims to investigate the predictive validity of self‐control (SC) for several forms of criminal recidivism (general, property, violence, sexual).Design/methodology/approachIn total, 1,838 male prisoners were interviewed while serving a prison sentence. Personality traits known to be related to SC served as operationalization of SC. Cluster analyses identified three clusters of SC‐related traits: Emotion regulation, Self‐assertion, and Effortful control. Survival‐analyses predicted recidivism, which was assessed using official data. The follow up period amounted to 72 months.FindingsThe SC‐related trait clusters significantly predicted general and violent reoffending, after controlling for established risk factors for recidivism (age, age at first offense, social status, previous youth detention, out‐of‐home placements, and length of imprisonment). However, trait clusters did not predict reoffending with a property offense. Offenders with violent or sex offenses in t...
Corrections, 2017
Despite the international importance of teak (Tectona grandis) plantations, very few studies have been published on fertilisation, generally with inconsistent conclusions. To evaluate the effect of N-P-K fertilisation on teak stands of different ages and related factors, four N-P-K fertilisation trials were analysed over an 11-year chronosequence (1, 3, 6 and 10 year-old plantations) in northern lowlands of Costa Rica. The site has a humid climate (with 3 dry months) and low fertility clayey acidic red soils (typic hapludults). ANOVA and Tukey-LSD mean differences tests (α = 0.05) were conducted to determine the best fertilisation treatment at each age. No evidence of growth improvement, related to fertilisation, was observed in the 3 and 10-year-old plantations, while a positive (but low) effect of fertilisation was recorded in the 1 and 6-year-old plantations. The present study highlighted the need for further research with greater scope, both spatial and temporal, to gain a clearer understanding of the fertilisation requirements of teak, an important pantropical species.
International Criminology, 2021
This article analyses risk factors for criminal recidivism of young offenders in Argentina, compared with studies in other countries; 65 recidivists are compared with 59 one-time offenders. Effect sizes were calculated for 24 risk factors for recidivism. Seven groups of risk factors were compared: (a) demographic information, (b) offence history, (c) family factors, (d) educational factors, (e) substance use history, (f) social factors, and (g) community and societal influences. Large effects on recidivism for all risk factors were found in the present study, in comparison with other countries. These findings are explained within the socio-cultural context of Argentina. Forward stepwise logistic regression analyses were carried out in order to investigate independent predictors, showing that age at first contact with the law, low school achievement, poor school attendance, substance abuse, delinquent peers and community disorganization were the most important independent predictors of juvenile recidivism in the present study. Criminal history and delinquent peers were also important predictors in other reviews of the predictors of reoffending.
Suça sürüklenen çocuk ve ergenlerin sosyodemografik ve klinik özellikleri
Cukurova Medical Journal, 2018
Öz Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of the juvenile delinquents, who were sent to a university hospital by judicial authorities in order to prepare an expert report in accordance with Clause 31/2 of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC), and their families as well as nature of the offence, co morbid psychiatric diagnosis, and the prepared report results. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted by reviewing retrospectively the file records of children and adolescents who were required to be reported in accordance with Clause 31/2 of TPC in Outpatient Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of a university hospital by judicial authorities between 01.04.2013 and 01.04.2015. From the judicial file records, socio-demographic characteristics of the cases and their families, WISC-R (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised) results, clinical evaluation results and information related to the judicial event were obtained. Results: It was found that 11.1% of the cases (n=7) were female and 88.9% (n=56) were male. Theft (40.5%) was on the first rank among the crime types committed by the cases who were claimed to get involved in crime. As a result of the clinical evaluation it was determined that 49.2% of the cases (n=31) had normal intelligence level, 38.1% (n=24) had borderline intelligence level, and 12.7% (n=8) had mental retardation. Conclusions: The intellectual limitations in juvenile delinquents, socioeconomic difficulties, and frequency of the low education levels in both children and families are remarkable. In order to reduce juvenile delinquency, it is considered as necessary to determine the needs of children at risk and take appropriate protective and supportive measures. Amaç: Bu çalışmada, adli makamlarca TCK madde 31/2 gereğince bilirkişi raporu düzenlenmek üzere bir üniversite hastanesine gönderilen suça sürüklenen çocuklar ve ailelerinin sosyodemografik özellikleri, suçun niteliği, eşlik eden psikiyatrik tanı ve düzenlenen rapor sonuçlarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışma, 01.04.2013-01.04.2015 tarihleri arasında adli makamlar tarafınca bir üniversite hastanesi Çocuk ve Ergen Ruh Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları polikliniğine TCK madde 31/2 gereğince rapor düzenlenmesi istenen çocuk ve ergenlerin dosya kayıtlarının geriye dönük olarak taranması ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Adli dosya kayıtlarından olgular ve ailelerinin sosyodemografik özellikleri, WISC-R (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, WÇZÖ-R, Wechsler Çocuklar için Zeka Ölçeği-Yeniden Gözden Geçirilmiş Formu) sonuçları, klinik değerlendirme sonuçları ve adli olaya ilişkin bilgiler elde edilmiştir. Bulgular: Olguların %11,1'i (n=7) kız, %88,9'u (n=56) erkekti. Suça karıştığı iddia edilen olguların işlenen suç tipleri arasında ise ilk sırada hırsızlık (%40,5) yer almaktaydı. Klinik değerlendirme ile olguların %49,2'sinin (n=31) normal zeka düzeyinde olduğu, %38,1'inin (n=24) sınırda zihinsel kapasiteye sahip olduğu, %12,7'sinin (n=8) zeka geriliğinin bulunduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Suça sürüklenen çocuklarda entelektüel kısıtlılık, sosyoekonomik güçlükler ve hem çocuk, hem de ailede düşük eğitim düzeyinin sıklığı dikkat çekicidir. Çocuk suçluluğunu azaltmak için risk altındaki çocukların gereksinimlerinin belirlenmesi ve buna uygun koruyucu ve destekleyici önlemlerin alınması gerekli görünmektedir.
A reiteração de atos infracionais no Brasil: o caso de Minas Gerais
Revista Direito GV, 2020
Resumo Este artigo resulta de pesquisa realizada no estado de Minas Gerais entre setembro de 2017 e outubro de 2018, cujos objetivos foram diagnosticar a reiteração de atos infracionais no sistema socioeducativo do estado e identificar o perfil dos adolescentes reincidentes, em comparação com o dos não reincidentes. Procedemos não apenas ao cálculo da taxa de reiteração de atos infracionais, como também analisamos se ela está relacionada com os perfis sociodemográfico e infracional dos egressos do sistema socioeducativo. Para tanto, lançamos mão de metodologia estatística por meio de modelos de regressão logística binomial. Constatou-se que as variáveis que mais impactam a probabilidade de reiteração de atos infracionais são o tipo de vínculo familiar, a trajetória infracional precoce do adolescente, o consumo de drogas ilícitas em período anterior ao cumprimento da medida socioeducativa. Os efeitos das variáveis tipo de medida socioeducativa e tempo de cumprimento da medida socioed...
Swift, certain and fair justice: Insights from behavioural learning and neurocognitive research
Drug and alcohol review, 2018
Increasingly, persons entering the criminal justice system are reporting substance-related concerns. It is therefore essential that interventions appropriately target the needs of substance-using offenders to ensure the rate of reoffending can be reduced. In this context, there is now a substantial literature demonstrating specific neurocognitive deficits among substance-using and offender populations, including, but not limited to, problems with executive function, rational decision making, consequential thinking and prospective memory. Such research is providing important insights into why current intervention approaches may not be as effective for substance-using offenders, and why emerging programs, such as 'swift, certain and fair' justice programs, which focus on guaranteed, immediate but proportionate sanctions, might be more successful in reducing both substance use and offending behaviour. In this paper, we argue that the potential success of this intervention can b...
Psychiatric evaluation of juvenile delinquents under probation in the context of recidivism
Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2018
OBJECTIVE: High rates of psychiatric disorders and comorbidities have been reported in the juvenile justice system, and both phenomena are thought to contribute to repetitive offending. Although extensive research on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in juvenile offenders has been conducted in European countries and the USA, epidemiological research concerning this issue is limited in Turkish population. The aim of the present study is to examine psychiatric diagnoses, comorbidity patterns, psychometric properties, and the factors related to recidivism defined as reconvictions, in juveniles under probation in Turkey. METHODS: We conducted face-to-face interviews with volunteers. This study sample consisted of 55 individuals (Female/Male = 4/51) who were in the Istanbul Anatolian Probation Department. The participants' age ranged from 14 to 18 years (mean age = 17.22 ± 0.62). Diagnoses were established based on the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Present and Lifetime Version. A detailed sociodemographic form, Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Child Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used for assessment. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the number of conviction: Group 1 consisted of 65% of the sample (n = 36) with one conviction and Group 2 consisted of 35% of the sample (n = 19) with more than one conviction. We examined the psychometric properties that might predict recidivism through the logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We ascertained that 67.3% of the juveniles had at least one psychiatric disorder, and 45.5% had two or more comorbid psychiatric disorders. The most common diagnosis was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (43.6%), and followed by depressive mood disorders (34.5%). Juveniles in Group 2 were less educated, had low levels of verbal, performance and total intelligence quotient (IQ) score, had more numbers of psychiatric diagnoses, particularly depressive mood disorders and history of substance use disorders (p < .05). Having a higher number of psychiatric diagnoses and having comorbidity of both externalizing (i.e. ADHD, conduct disorder) and internalizing disorders (i.e. depressive mood disorders, anxiety disorders) were significantly higher in Group 2 (p < .05). Total duration of education (OR = 0.470, 95% CI = 0.257-0.861, p < .05) and having at least one psychiatric disorder (OR = 10.64, 95% CI = 1.642-68.954, p < .05) were found to predict multiple convictions. CONCLUSION: Juveniles in the justice system are faced with multiple psychiatric disorders, along with social/environmental adversities. There is a need of a holistic approach addressing multiple areas to prevent repetitive offending behaviour. Accordingly, in addition to legal sanctions, evaluation and interventions regarding mental health will contribute to improve for both psychosocial well-being of delinquent juveniles and prevention strategies for recidivism.
Global Mental Health, 2016
Background. Lack of relevant data has continued to militate against the development of policy and practice toward identification and treatment of alcohol/substance abuse among adolescents coming in contact with the juvenile justice system in Nigeria. This study aims to provide such data, including its policy/practice implications. Methods. One hundred and seventy eight (178) adolescents, who are representative of adolescents within the youth correctional services of Lagos jurisdiction, were interviewed using the alcohol and substance abuse section of the Kiddies’ Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Results. The lifetime prevalence rate of abuse of/dependence on any of alcohol or other substances was 22.5% (alcohol, 12.3%; illicit substance, 17.9%). Males were overrepresented among those with any substance use disorder, with gendered prevalence rate as high as 35%. Having had a lived-experience of being a street-child was the single most significant independent factor...
Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 2018
The aim of the present study was to analyze the relation between recidivism and self-reported psychopathic traits, more specifically the callous-unemotional, impulsivity, and narcissism dimensions of the psychopathy construct among female juvenile delinquents. The Antisocial Process Screening Device-Self-Report (APSD-SR) and other self-report psychometric instruments (i.e., Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits [ICU], Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, version 11 [BIS-11], Narcissistic Personality Inventory-13 [NPI-13]) independently measuring the different dimensions of psychopathy were completed by a sample of incarcerated female juvenile offenders (N = 81) that were retrospectively classified as first-time offenders versus recidivists. The only statistically significant relation between recidivism and psychopathic traits found was with narcissism, namely with the Grandiose/Exhibitionism and the Entitlement/Exploitativeness dimensions of the NPI-13. Our results argue for some utility of self-reported psychopathic traits in retrospectively predicting recidivism among female juvenile delinquents.
Risk and Protective Factors for Recidivism Among Juveniles Who Have Offended Sexually
Sexual Abuse, 2012
Literature on risk factors for recidivism among juveniles who have sexually offended (JSOs) is limited. In addition, there have been no studies published concerning protective factors among this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of risk and protective factors to sexual and nonsexual recidivism among a sample of 193 male JSOs (mean age = 15.26). Youths were followed for an average of 7.24 years following discharge from a residential sex offender treatment program. The risk factor o pportunities to reoffend, as coded based on the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism, was associated with sexual recidivism. Several risk factors (e.g., prior offending; peer delinquency) were associated with nonsexual recidivism. No protective factors examined were associated with sexual recidivism, although strong attachments and bonds as measured by the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth was negatively related to nonsexual recidivism. ...
Criminal Justice and Behavior, 2015
Recidivism risk assessment tools have been utilized for decades. Although their implementation and use have the potential to touch nearly every aspect of the correctional system, the creation and examination of optimal development methods have been restricted to a small group of instrument developers. Furthermore, the methodological variation among common instruments used nationally is substantial. The current study examines this variation by reviewing methodologies used to develop several existing assessments and then tests a variety of design variations in an attempt to isolate and select those which provide improved content and predictive performance using a large sample ( N = 44,010) of reentering offenders in Washington State. Study efforts were completed in an attempt to isolate and identify potential incremental performance achievements. Findings identify a methodology for improved prediction model performance and, in turn, describe the development and introduction of the Was...
International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 2018
A number of studies have shown that the residential mobility of an offender postrelease can significantly influence recidivism. Research has also shown how the mobility of neighborhoods into which offenders are released is an important contextual factor that predicts recidivism. Within the social disorganization framework, this study combines these lines of research by examining the effect of both individual- and neighborhood-level residential mobility on recidivism for a cohort of high-risk prisoners released on parole in New Zealand. Using multilevel analysis techniques, we found that neither immediate individual-level residential mobility nor neighborhood-level mobility was associated with recidivism after controlling for various multilevel predictors. A number of individual- and neighborhood-level variables were predictive of recidivism, including the number of parole conditions placed on the released offender, and the percent foreign born in their neighborhood. These results ar...
Scientific Reports
Interpersonal trust has been described as a core dimension of cooperative, mutually beneficial interpersonal relationships but it is unclear if it is related to antisocial behaviours in youth. The present study aimed at analysing a subsample of male juveniles who committed serious violent offenses and met criteria of conduct disorder (JO/CD), and a subsample of healthy controls (HC) using a series of trust games (TGs). Twenty-four male JO/CD and 24 age matched male HC performed a series of eight one-shot TGs against different unknown human respectively computer opponents. Mixed model analyses found a non-significant trend that JO/CD invested less points than HC during TGs. In the subsample of JO/CD, the overall investment in TGs was found to be negatively associated with self-reported uncaring behaviours and officially reported general re-offenses. Our findings suggest some indication of an impaired ability of JO/CD to initiate mutually trusting relationships to others that should b...
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
The Juvenile Military Court (JMC), established in 2009 in the West Bank, handles offenses perpetrated by Palestinian minors, consisting mostly of security-related violations. With the establishment of the JMC, and a subsequent three-stage legal reform in handling juvenile offenders, Palestinian minor suspects and defendants have been accorded various procedural rights. This study addresses the impact of these rights on the criminal careers of Palestinian minors appearing in the JMC. It first reviews the demographic profile of 8,301 minors handled by the JMC between 2000 and 2018, describes their offenses, and offense transition between their initial and second arrest. Using trend analysis, the study compares minors’ reoffending level in the years before and after the reform. The findings suggest significant differences in minors’ reoffending level between the years preceding and following the legal reform. Possible explanations for the findings are offered, and the article concludes...
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 2023
Informed by the social control theoretical perspective, this study intends to identify the factors more likely to differentiate American Indian (AI) adolescents who never used illicit drugs (abstainers) and those who used drugs in the past but did not report recent drug usage (desisters) from their peers who reported lifetime and recent drug usage (persisters). This secondary analysis is based on data from a multi-site study conducted between 2009 and 2013. It is based on a gender-balanced sample (N = 3,380) of AI adolescents (50.50% male; Mean age = 14.75; SD = 1.69) representing the major AI languages and cultural groups in the U.S. Half of the AI adolescents reported lifetime drug use (50.40%), 37.50% never used drugs, and 12.10% stopped using drugs. When controlling for the variables included in the analysis, AI boys were significantly more likely than AI girls to desist from drug use. Both boys and girls who never used drugs tended to be younger, were less likely to have delinquent friends and a lower level of self-control, had stronger bonds to school, but lower levels of family attachment, and reported increased parental supervision. Compared to drug users, desisters associated significantly less with delinquent peers. While school attachment, selfcontrol, and parental monitoring did not differentiate female desisters from female drug users, adolescent boys who desisted from drug use were more likely to report higher levels of school attachment and parental monitoring and their level of self-control was less likely to be low.
Criminal Recidivism Among Hong Kong Male Juvenile Probationers
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2011
Hong Kong juvenile probationers are scarcely studied. The purpose of this study was to explore the 6-month short-term recidivism rate of 92 male juvenile probationers (aged 14-20 years), with and without controlling for their index crime. Generally, 30% of the juveniles reoffended within the 6-month follow-up period (82 and 18% were adjudicated of a nonviolent and violent offense respectively). Eight personality and psychosocial properties (self-esteem, life satisfaction, social bond, positive and negative affect, impulsivity, pro-offending attitudes, and self-perceived life problems) were assessed in both Wave 1 and Wave 2 periods. Only three properties (negative affect, self-perceived life problems, and selfesteem) yielded significant changes within the 6-month period. Beyond the exploratory analyses, another aim of this study was to identify significant predictors of recidivism in these rarely sampled juvenile probationers. Results indicated that type of crime, onset age of delinquent behavior, frequency of delinquency involvement in the past year, social bond, negative affect, impulsivity, and prooffending attitudes were significant risk factors for recidivism. These findings highlight the need for social workers and other youth justice personnel to prioritize the intervention resources for juvenile probationers in light of the high estimated lifetime cost of crime for young offenders. Cognitive-behavioral treatment modalities with emphases on family functioning and problem-solving strategies were found to be an effective intervention approach for juvenile offenders. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.
The Suitability of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in Criminal Offender Samples
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common in community samples and are associated with various dysfunctional physical, psychological, and behavioral consequences. In this regard, criminal offenders are at specific risk, considering their elevated ACE rates compared with community samples and the associations of ACEs with criminal behaviors. However, assessing ACEs in offender samples by self-reports has been criticized with regard to their validity and reliability. We examined the suitability of ACE-self-reports using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) in a sample of 231 male offenders involved in the German criminal justice system by comparing self-reported to externally rated ACEs to externally rated ACEs based on the information from the offenders’ criminal and health-related files and on interviews conducted by forensically trained psychological/psychiatric experts. The accordance between self-ratings and expert ratings was examined considering mean differences, corr...
Moral development and recidivism: a meta-analysis
International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 2011
A meta-analysis of 19 studies (N = 15,992 offenders) showed a significant inverse relation between more mature moral development and recidivism. Moderator analyses revealed a larger effect size for moral cognition (r = .20) than for moral emotion (r = .11). Effect sizes for production measures (r = .57) were much larger than for recognition measures (r = .16) and unstructured (clinical) judgment (r = .10). Larger effect sizes were found for female delinquents (r = .32) than for male delinquents (r = .21). Only small differences in effect sizes were found between juvenile delinquents (r = .10) and adult delinquents (r = .16). Finally, self-report measures of recidivism revealed much larger effect sizes (r = .32) than official reports of recidivism (r = .09). The discussion focuses on the theoretical and practical meaning of the magnitude of the effect size for the relation between moral development and recidivism.
School Settings that Facilitate High Teacher Expectations
The Cambridge Handbook of Applied School Psychology, 2020
You are free to reproduce, distribute and transmit this article, provided you attribute the author(s), Education Canada Vol. 47 (2), and a link to the Canadian Education Association (www.cea-ace.ca) 2010. You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
A More Consistent Application of the RNR Model
Criminal Justice and Behavior, 2016
The development of risk–needs assessments has substantially expanded assessment content, which is reflected in the now regular use of both static and dynamic items. However, while the risk–need–responsivity model differentiates between risks and needs theoretically, the scoring of risks and needs does not make for a clear demarcation. We argue that an assessment of an offender’s needs should be scored separately and solely on items that are changeable and predict recidivism. This article describes the conceptualization and development of Washington State’s offender needs assessment. Designed to complement an offender’s assessment of risk, we make use of key design elements to avoid many theoretical and methodological caveats. Using preexisting item selection, weighting, and validation methods, we present domain-based needs models that maximize item content and provide substantial performance in the prediction of recidivism.
An Application of Machine Learning for Predicting Rearrests: Significant Predictors for Juveniles
Race and Social Problems, 2017
This study examined the influence of the individual and social background in predicting the rearrest of 1124 juveniles who were first brought into the juvenile detention center in a midsized county in California. Independent variables include demographic characteristics, first offense type, gang affiliation, usage of drug, and family characteristics. Using cross-validation to choose an appropriate machine learning model for predicting rearrest, this study identified that the most important predictors of subsequent arrest are age at first arrest, drug usage, gang affiliation, and family with government assistance. Despite the fact that blacks are overrepresented in the juvenile detention population, race was not a significant predictor for rearrest. Future research would continue to explore the utilization of machine learning adding nontraditional variables to enhance the prediction of recidivism.
Vocational Training in Juvenile Detention: A Call for Action
The Career Development Quarterly, 2012
Given high recidivism rates and the vulnerability of detained youth, the authors posit that juvenile detention centers may be most efficacious by serving as both place and process to create career opportunity through vocational training. The authors review the psychosocial factors contributing to delinquency and the primary theories of rehabilitation that extend to detained youth. They highlight key ingredients to effective vocational programming in juvenile detention, such as integration of traditional career theories with constructs pertinent to this population (emerging adulthood, sociopolitical development, social cognitive career theory). Considerations for successful implementation of vocational programs in juvenile detention are also offered.
Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 2020
Previous research has shown an association between cognitive control deficits and problematic behavior such as antisocial behavior and substance use, but little is known about the predictive value of cognitive control for treatment outcome. The current study tests whether selected markers of baseline cognitive control predict (1) treatment completion of a day treatment program involving a combination of approaches for multiproblem young adults and (2) daytime activities a year after the start of treatment, over and above psychological, social, and criminal characteristics. We assessed individual, neurobiological, and neurobehavioral measures, including functional brain activity during an inhibition task and two electroencephalographic measures of error processing in 127 male multiproblem young adults (age 18–27 years). We performed two hierarchical regression models to test the predictive power of cognitive control for treatment completion and daytime activities at follow-up. The ov...
Longitudinal Patterns of Secure Institutional Placement Among Serious Adolescent Offenders
Criminal Justice and Behavior, 2018
This study identifies longitudinal patterns of institutional placement to understand experiences in the juvenile justice system. we used monthly calendar data from the Pathways to Desistance study (N = 1,354), which focuses on understanding how serious adolescent offenders desist from antisocial activity. youth between 14 and 18 years of age were followed for 7 years. we used group-based trajectory modeling to identify longitudinal patterns of institutional placement. we also examined bivariate and multivariate associations between our identified groups and demographic, legal, and extralegal factors. we chose the 4-group solution, which reflected a pattern of steady time in the community (33.3%), and three patterns of youth spending varying (22.5%), declining (24.4%), and steady high (18.8%) time in placement. Significant differences between groups suggest that youth from the most disadvantaged contexts and those who were most likely to have trouble in school and live in disorganized neighborhoods spent the most time in placement.
Analysis of Violent and Non-violent Versatility in Self-reported Juvenile Delinquency
Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 2017
Situational action theory (SAT) has emphasized the interaction between individual and social influences on youth crime involvement. In this study, attitudes towards violence, self-control and perception of neighbourhood are tested in order to determine to what extent they predict versatility in violent and non-violent offences. In order to attain this goal, 2309 Belgian youths aged from 12 to 18 years were administered the Self-report Delinquency Questionnaire. When the offences are divided into violent and non-violent versatilities, the results show differences in the factors that predict delinquency; whereas attitudes towards violence and self-control predict all type of offences, the perception of neighbourhood is only a predictive factor for non-violent offences. External and internal factors need to be included in order to predict the widest range of criminal versatility, since committing a crime involves making choices that depend on the perceived alternatives.
Federal Criminal Careers: an Empirical Examination of the Post-Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA)
American Journal of Criminal Justice, 2018
The criminal career paradigm is a major research area but has largely overlooked federal offenders and federal data. Drawing on a population of federal supervised release clients in the Midwestern United States, the current study examined the predictive validity of the federal Post-Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA) and its subscales for their association with six parameters of the criminal career. Poisson, negative binomial, and logistic regression models showed that PCRA Risk was significantly associated with annual offending rate (lambda), chronicity, prison misconduct, noncompliance on supervised release, having a warrant requested on supervised release, and career criminal status. Various PCRA subscales also were significantly associated with criminal career outcomes especially for current community supervision outcomes. These effects withstood confounding effects for age, sex, race, age of arrest onset, federal criminal history rank, and total prison exposure. The study supported basic criminal career findings using federal data and showed that a standard risk assessment actuarial in the federal system has utility as an indicator of the criminal career.
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2020
This meta-analysis examined whether theoretically and clinically relevant differences exist between male adolescents who have sexually offended against intrafamilial victims (AIV) and male adolescents who have sexually offended against extrafamilial victims (AEV). A total of 26 independent samples (8 published and 18 unpublished) that compared a total of 2169 AIV and 2852 AEV were analyzed. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that categorizing male adolescents who commit sexual offenses based on their relationship to victims is a meaningful distinction. We found that AIV presented with greater atypical sexual interests, increased sexual regulation issues, more severe family dysfunction, more extensive childhood maltreatment histories, and greater internalizing psychopathology than AEV. Conversely, AEV presented with more indicators of antisociality than AIV, suggesting that extrafamilial sexual offending might fit better with a generalist explanation of adolescent sexual offending. Findings highlight the value of assessing family dysfunction and maltreatment history, sexual development and regulation, and general delinquency factors to better understand adolescents who have committed a sexual offense. Keywords Incest • Adolescents • Sex offending • Intrafamilial victims • Extrafamilial victims Introduction Despite making up only 5-10% of the population in Western countries (Eurostat 2019; U.S. Census Bureau 2018), it is estimated that male adolescents between 12 and 17 years old commit approximately 20% of police reported sexual offenses (Nationaal Rapporteur Mensenhandel en Seksueel Geweld tegen Kinderen 2018; Planty et al. 2013; U.S. Department of Justice 2009), often against younger children (Ueda 2017). Moreover, approximately a quarter of adolescent sexual offenses committed in North America are against a relative (i.e., against intrafamilial victims; U.S. Department of Justice 2009; Varma and Leroux 2019). Despite this, we know relatively little about how adolescents who commit sexual offenses against intrafamilial victims (AIV) differ from adolescents who commit sexual offenses against extrafamilial victims (AEV). This meta-analysis was conducted to examine theoretical and clinical factors distinguishing intrafamilial and extrafamilial male adolescent sexual offending, in order to highlight potential avenues to improve theory, prevention, assessment, and intervention. As almost all research about adult and adolescent sexual offending has focused on males, this meta-analysis by necessity also focuses on male adolescents. Explaining Adolescent Sexual Offending Theories about sexual offending generally emphasize atypical sexual interests and antisociality as individual-level explanations for both the onset and persistence of sexual offending (e.g., Finkelhor 1984; Hanson and Morton-Bourgon 2005; Seto 2019). Atypical sexual interests refer Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (
European Journal of Criminology, 2018
The current study analyzed the relation between recidivism and self-reported psychopathic traits, more specifically the callous-unemotional, impulsivity, and narcissism dimensions of the psychopathy construct. The Antisocial Process Screening Device – Self-Report (APSD-SR) and other self-report instruments independently measuring the three different dimensions of psychopathy (that is, Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Narcissistic Personality-13) were completed by a sample of incarcerated male juvenile offenders ( N = 244) who were retrospectively classified as recidivists versus non-recidivists. The only statistically significant relation found between recidivism and self-reported psychopathic traits after controlling for age and socioeconomic status was with the impulsivity dimension of the APSD-SR. Additionally, results showed that recidivism was associated with alcohol use but not with drug use or crime seriousness.
Can the triarchic model of psychopathy predict youth offender recidivism?
Psychology, Crime & Law, 2020
The triarchic model of psychopathy is one of the most influential models of psychopathy developed in recent years. The current aim is to investigate the utility of a self-report measure of the triarchic model of psychopathy in predicting criminal recidivism among a sample of incarcerated juvenile offenders. Male youth participants (N = 228, M = 16.38 years, SD = 1.26 years) from the Detention Centers managed nationwide by the Ministry of Justice of Portugal were followed during a two-year period and categorized as recidivists or non-recidivists. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) results showed that only the Disinhibition dimension of the triarchic model of psychopathy was able to significantly predict general recidivism. The binary logistic regression models controlling for relevant variables (e.g. age of first detention, past frequency of crimes, conduct disorder symptoms) found that the boldness, meanness, and disinhibition dimensions failed to predict general or violent recidivism. The overall findings suggest that the triarchic model of psychopathy demonstrates limited utility in terms of predicting recidivism among juvenile offenders.
Principles of Prevention and Intervention to Close Discipline Gaps in Schools
The Cambridge Handbook of Applied School Psychology, 2020
We evaluate a tracking program in a large urban district where schools with at least one gifted fourth grader create a separate "gifted/high achiever" classroom. Most seats are filled by non-gifted "high achievers," ranked by previous-year test scores. We study the program's effects on the high achievers using (1) a rank-based regression discontinuity design, and (2) a between-school/cohort analysis. We find significant effects that are concentrated among black and Hispanic participants. Minorities gain 0.5 standard deviation units in fourth-grade reading and math scores, with persistent gains through sixth grade. We find no evidence of negative or positive spillovers on non-participants.
Crime & Delinquency, 2009
This study examines the relationship of institutional misconduct to postrelease rearrest, controlling for a battery of preincarceration variables typically found to influence recidivism among institutionalized delinquent offenders. Based on data from 1,804 serious and violent male delinquents released from a large southern juvenile correctional system, this research found limited support for institutional misconduct as a determinant of recidivism. Of all measures of misconduct, only the rate of total misconduct infractions was related to postrelease rearrest, and this effect was generally small and found only in the rearrest frequency model, not the dichotomous rearrest model. Implications for research and practice are explored.
Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Recidivism in Youth Offenders
Criminal Justice and Behavior, 2015
The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of childhood maltreatment on youth offender recidivism in Singapore. The study used case file coding on a sample of 3,744 youth offenders, among whom about 6% had a childhood maltreatment history. The results showed that the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory 2.0 (YLS/CMI 2.0) ratings significantly predicted recidivism for nonmaltreated youth offenders, but not for maltreated youth offenders. Using propensity score matching, the result from a Cox regression analysis showed that maltreated youth offenders were 1.38 times as likely as their nonmaltreated counterparts to reoffend with a follow-up period of up to 7.4 years. The results implied that the YLS/CMI 2.0 measures were insufficient for assessing the risk for recidivism for the maltreated youth offenders, and that other information is needed to help assessors use the professional override when making the overall risk ratings.
Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2016
Early malnutritional status has been associated with reduced cognitive ability in childhood. However, there are almost no studies on the effect of malnutrition on positive social behavior, and no tests of possible mediating mechanisms. This study tests the hypothesis that poor nutritional status is associated with impaired social functioning in childhood, and that neurocognitive ability mediates this relationship. We assessed 1553 male and female 3‐year‐olds from a birth cohort on measures of malnutrition, social behavior and verbal and spatial neurocognitive functions. Children with indicators of malnutrition showed impaired social behavior (p < .0001) as compared with children in the control group with adequate nutritional status. These associations even persisted after controlling for social adversity and parental education. Findings were not moderated by gender or ethnicity, and there was no interaction effect with parental education. A dose–response relationship was observed...
Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie, 2017
Zusammenfassung Warum Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund (MH) delinquent werden, ist eine Frage, die gesellschaftlich intensiv diskutiert wird und durch die hohe Diversität der Straffälligenpopulation auch kriminalpolitisch sehr bedeutsam ist. Bislang gibt es jedoch kaum Kriminaltheorien, die systematisch Migrationsstressoren und Aspekte der kulturellen Sozialisation betrachten. Die vorliegende Studie untersuchte deshalb gezielt subjektive Ursachenzuschreibungen für Delinquenz bei Menschen mit türkischem oder arabischem MH. Angelehnt an die Delphi-Methode wurden zunächst Interviews mit forensischen Experten durchgeführt, die selbst einen MH haben. Mit einem daraus abgeleiteten Fragebogen wurden in dieser Arbeit 128 forensische Experten, welche als Sachverständige im Strafrecht, im Strafvollzug oder in der Bewährungshilfe tätig waren,
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 2019
The present study examines the utility of three self-report measures of psychopathic traits in predicting recidivism among a sample of incarcerated male juvenile offenders. Participants ( N = 214, M = 16.40 years, SD = 1.29 years) from seven Portuguese juvenile detention centers were followed and prospectively classified as recidivists versus non-recidivists. Area under the curve (AUC) analysis revealed that the Antisocial Process Screening Device–Self-Report (APSD-SR) presented the best performance in terms of predicting general recidivism, with the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) and the Childhood and Adolescent Taxon Scale–Self-Report (CATS-SR) presenting much poorer results. However, logistic regression models controlling for past frequency of crimes and age of first incarceration found that none of these self-report measures significantly predicted 1- or 3-year recidivism, whether general or violent. Findings suggest there are limitations in terms of the incremental u...
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 2013
Background Juvenile offenders with intellectual disability (ID) have been largely ignored in the literature of risk assessment, while they are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and ID is a risk factor for juvenile delinquency and recidivism. The aim of this study was to examine whether there are differences between juvenile offenders with and without ID in the impact of risk factors for recidivism. Both the impact of static and dynamic risk factors were examined. Static risk factors were examined in the criminal history domain and dynamic risk factors were examined in the domains of family, school, use of free time, friends, alcohol/ drugs, attitude, aggression and skills. This knowledge is important for both assessment and treatment of juvenile offenders with ID. Method The sample consisted of adolescents who appeared before the courts for a criminal act and for whom the Washington State Juvenile Court Assessment (WSJCA) was completed. The group of ID juvenile offenders (n = 102) consisted of juvenile
Family Mode Deactivation Therapy: Treatment for Adolescent Behavioral Problems
Pajouhan Scientific Journal
Background and Objective: The family traditionally has played a unique role in the development and care for adolescents. For this reason, scientists have consistently sought to formulate and introduce new family-based therapeutic approaches to further enhance the functions of this important social institution. In this manuscript, for the first time in Iran, one of the new treatments in this field is discussed. Materials and Methods: In this study, a review of the theoretical and research background in the field of family mode deactivation therapy is presented and introduced. Results: Family Mode Deactivation Therapy has emerged as a third wave treatment for adolescents with behavioral problems. In this treatment, a unique integration of family based mode deactivation, evaluation, enlightenment, and reorientation of fundamental beliefs techniques is used to eliminate problematic behaviors during and after treatment. This treatment is especially applicable in the context of Iranian families. Conclusion: Family mode deactivation therapy, as a modern therapy, is able to reduce the behavioral problems in adolescents. Therefore, we recommend the use of this treatment to psychotherapists.
Violence Against Women, 2017
Female juvenile justice–involved (JJI) youth experience more sexual abuse (SA) than their non-JJI counterparts or their male JJI counterparts. This study examines SA’s role among JJI females ( N = 1,307) in a behavioral health diversion program. Results indicate that SA increases the risk of psychological trauma, particularly posttraumatic stress and depression. SA also increases the odds of suicidal behavior, running away, and substance use. SA females have the same odds of successfully completing behavioral health diversion and being charged with any offense or misdemeanor after termination as non-SA females. Implications of research and future directions are discussed.
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 2020
Only a few studies have prospectively examined the utility of self-reported measures of psychopathic traits in predicting criminal behavior among forensic samples of female youth offenders. The main aim of this study is to compare the utility of two self-report measures of psychopathic-like traits in predicting criminal recidivism among a sample of incarcerated female youths. Participants (N = 76) from the three nation-wide Portuguese juvenile detention centers that admit female youths were followed over two years and prospectively classified as recidivists versus non-recidivists. Logistic regression models controlling for crime frequency and ethnicity revealed that neither the Antisocial Process Screening Device -Self-Report (APSD-SR) nor the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) and their respective dimensions significantly predicted one-and two-year general recidivism and violent recidivism. Findings mostly suggest there are clear limitations in terms of the incremental utility of self-report measures of psychopathic traits in predicting criminal recidivism among incarcerated female juveniles.
A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effects of Community versus Custodial Sanctions in Youth Justice
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 2022
Although community sanctions have become a popular alternative to custodial sanctions in youth justice, primary questions about the recidivism effects of community sanctions remain unanswered. The current study aims to fill this gap through a quasi-experimental analysis of 2-year recidivism differences between 4,425 youth subject to community sanctions versus custodial sanctions in the Netherlands in 2015 and 2016. Recidivism was analyzed in terms of overall, serious, and very serious recidivism for the full sample, a low risk subsample, and a medium-high risk subsample. Findings indicate that youth subject to community sanctions are less likely to recidivate overall, and less like likely to recidivate seriously than youth subject to custodial sanctions. Community sanctions were found to be particularly beneficial for preventing very serious recidivism among low risk youth. Additionally, it was found that medium-high risk youth subject to community sanctions are less likely to recidivate overall, and less seriously than medium-high risk youth subject to custodial sanctions. Implications of these findings for future research and practice are discussed.