The Impact of Residential Placement on Aggregate Delinquency

Abstract

This study sought to determine the impact of residential placement on juvenile delinquency. Specifically, the study focused on the extent to which juvenile detention and residential placement influenced juvenile violent, property, and drug offenses. Biennial, state-level panel data for the years 1997 through 2011 were analyzed using random effects modeling. Results indicated that increased levels of juvenile detention and residential placement were associated with higher rates of violent offending. Increased levels of residential placement were also related to higher rates of property and drug offending. The findings from the current study fail to support the deterrence and incapacitation hypotheses in relation to the institutionalization of juvenile offenders.