Pregnancy History Predicts Sexually Transmitted Infection Acquisition Over 6 Months of Follow-up Among African American Girls Recruited From Juvenile Detention Centers

Abstract

to Department of Corrections/juvenile prison, and waiver to adult prison system. The number/percentage of adolescents who reached each involvement level annually from 1999-2011 were gathered. Data were based on adolescents’ deepest level of involvement, and adolescents could be included in multiple annual estimates. Results were further analyzed across gender and race/ethnicity. Results: Penetration in the juvenile justice system has steadily declined from 1999 to 2011. Out of approximately 70,000 youths each year, the number of arrested adolescents dropped from 7303 (10.4%) to 5078 (7.25%), detained adolescents dropped from 3607 (5.15%) to 1123 (1.60%), committed adolescents dropped from 676 (0.97%) to 121 (0.17%), and waived adolescents dropped from 224 (0.32%) to 31 (0.004%). Juvenile justice involvement differed significantly across gender and race/ethnicity, with Black males having the highest prevalence of all four levels of involvement. Trends revealed decreasing involvement across all gender and race/ethnicity groups, with the most drastic declines among Black males. Arrest rates for Black males declined from 20.1% in 1999 to 14.2% in 2011, whereas rates were much lower and less drastic for Black females (10.5% in 1999 to 7.27% in 2011), Hispanic males (9.0% to 5.88%), White males (8.6% to 4.9%), White females (4.09% to 2.8%), and Hispanic females (3.02% to 2.4%). Conclusions: Significant changes have occurred regarding juvenile justice involvement, as evidenced by declining prevalence of arrests, detentions, commitments, and waivers over the past 12 years. These positive trends are likely due to important systematic changes that have occurred, including new judge leadership, efforts of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, diversion programs, and policy changes for commitments and waivers to adult court. Despite such improvements, juvenile justice involvement remains a common experience for urban youth, particularly for Black males who are disproportionately involved in all facets of the juvenile justice system. Sources of Support: HRSA/MCHB R40MC08721.