Abstract
PurposeAdolescents who are admitted to secure residential care have a high risk of delinquency after discharge. However, this risk may differ between subgroups in this heterogeneous population of adolescents with severe psychiatric problems and disruptive problem behaviour. In this study, the predictive validity of four risk profiles was examined for the number of minor, moderate, and severe offences after discharge from secure residential care. MethodsThe sample comprised 238 male former patients of a hospital for youth forensic psychiatry and orthopsychiatry in the Netherlands. In three Poisson regression analyses, the relationship between four previously identified risk profiles and the number of minor, moderate, and severe offences after discharge was examined. ResultsThe results showed that the four risk profiles differed significantly in the number of minor, moderate, and severe offences after discharge. Post hoc analysis revealed no mediating effect of termination of treatment on the relationship between the risk profiles and the number of minor, moderate, and severe offending after discharge. ConclusionAdolescents with many risk factors in multiple domains and adolescents with mainly family risks have an increased risk of persistent delinquency after discharge. Treatment should be tailored more effectively to the specific risks and needs of these adolescents.
Highlights
Adolescents with psychiatric and behavioural problems who are admitted to secure residential care have a high risk of de linquency after discharge (Knorth, Harder, Zandberg, & Kendrick, 2008)
The predictive validity of four risk profiles was examined for the number of minor, moderate, and severe offences after discharge from secure residential care
The present study focused on the predictive validity of risk profile membership for offending behaviour after discharge from secure psy chiatric residential care
Summary
Adolescents with psychiatric and behavioural problems who are admitted to secure residential care have a high risk of (persistent) de linquency after discharge (Knorth, Harder, Zandberg, & Kendrick, 2008). Reducing the risk of offending behaviour is an essential aim of forensic residential care, a meta-analysis by Knorth et al (2008) confirmed that offending behaviour is more difficult to treat than other problems. Because of the risk that their juvenile delinquency will continue and turn into life-course persistent offending (Moffitt, 2003, 2006), it is essential that residential treatment is tailored to the specific risks and needs of adolescents to maximise the treatment effects and reduce recidivism (Loeber, Slot, & StouthamerLoeber, 2008; Peterson-Badali, Skilling, & Haqanee, 2015; Van der Laan, Veenstra, Bogaerts, Verhulst, & Ormel, 2010)
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