The influence of juvenile justice workforce’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs on behaviors toward youth with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the influence that knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about youth with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions (SOGIE) may have on juvenile justice staff members’ provision of protection and support for these youth. When youth with diverse SOGIE are not protected by the workforce in charge of their care, they are at greater risk for poorer future outcomes as they transition into adulthood. Survey responses from 237 juvenile justice staff members in a mid-Atlantic state were examined using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Findings indicate that respondents who exhibited greater knowledge about these populations and those who had ever had an LGBT youth on their caseload were significantly more likely to report that they would demonstrate protective and supportive behaviors toward youth with diverse SOGIE. At the same time, those who exhibited more negative attitudes about LGBT populations were significantly less likely to report that they would demonstrate protective and supportive behaviors toward youth with diverse SOGIE. Staff members’ attributions about LGBT populations were not significantly related to their reported behaviors toward these youth. These findings set the stage for implications for theory, policy, practice, and research.