Delinquent Population Research Articles

Use of the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale in a Juvenile Delinquent Population: A Convergent Validity Study

The validity of the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE) in adolescents was not well established, and how self-esteem manifested in newly incarcerated juvenile delinquents was poorly described. Using a retrospective study with archival records, the SISE was compared to other measures of self-esteem, grit, mental health, and academic self-concept in a small juvenile detention center in the Midwest of the United States. Demographic data were analyzed, and a correlation, intraclass correlation, and kappa statistic were run to test relationships and reliability. The SISE was found to be a reliable and efficient tool to use with adolescents and juvenile delinquents. Policy recommendations applicable to juvenile delinquents and schools in general give direction using the findings.

Taste Preference Differences in Juvenile Delinquency

Smart food policy models for improving dietary intake recommend tailoring intervention to people's food preference. Food choice plays a major role in the psychological, economic, and social aspects of life by expressing preferences, identities, and cultural meaning. Poor health behavior has been associated with delinquency and antisocial personality features have been associated with taste preferences. The purpose of this study was to identify the taste preferences differences between non-delinquent and delinquent population. PrefQuest (PQ) was used for measuring food preferences. 56 participants were included. The results show a statistically significant difference (18.03) between experimental (n=21, M=158.13, SD=30.89) and control groups (n=35, M=176.17, SD=31.19) related to sweet taste preferences, t (54)=2.10, p=0.040, 95% CI [.82, 35.23] and a statistically significant difference (29.30) between experimental (n=21, M=195.13, SD=50.84) and control groups (n=35, M=224.46, SD=47.78) regarding to sweet & fatty taste preferences, t(54)=2.16, p=0.035, 95% CI [2.21, 56.38]. There were no statistically significant differences between control and experimental groups related to salty and salty & fatty taste preferences. The findings could bring a novel insight into the crime prevention strategy based on improving eating behavior, which may contribute to booster the health of the young people with the added benefit of reducing delinquency. Efforts to control delinquency should consider that the adequate emotional reward offered by the food, as an identity and social marker, could be a pathway to psychological rehabilitation in juvenile delinquency.

Sexe et représentations. Les façons de penser les femmes et leur délinquance chez les acteur·ice·s pénaux·ales et leurs effets sur la construction de la population délinquante

Cet article propose une réflexion sur la place du genre dans les processus de mise en œuvre de la loi pénale en amont du jugement. Dans une approche visant à prendre en compte le genre des policier·ière·s et magistrat·e·s du parquet et plaçant au cœur de l’analyse leurs représentations de genre et de la délinquance, il s’agit plus précisément d’interroger l’effet de ces représentations sur les prises de décision de ces professionnel·le·s concernant les (potentiel·le·s) justiciables et sur la construction de la délinquance (et de son genre) telle qu’elle se donne à voir dans les statistiques pénales.

Civil Citation

Objectives:The primary objective of this study is to assess potential variation across Florida’s counties of their implementation of civil citation and the outcomes associated with that implementation.Methods:Interrupted time-series analysis is used to determine whether the trends in juvenile arrests and the total delinquent population referred to the juvenile justice system (either through arrests or through civil citation) were significantly affected by the implementation of civil citation in each county.Results:There were immediate and gradual diversion effects of the civil citation program in a number of Florida’s counties. As a result, there is evidence of successful implementation with a few cases of net widening.Conclusions:While there was variation between counties in their implementation of civil citation, overall, Florida’s civil citation program was found to provide a diversion from arrest rather than a net-widening outcome. The study concludes with the identification of county-specific factors that characterized the local jurisdictions that were able to successfully overcome the major impediments associated with diversion and other reform programs’ implementation fidelity.

Study of sociodemographic profile of juvenile boys admitted in an observation home

Background: World Health Report estimated that 20% of children and adolescent suffer from a disabling mental illness worldwide. Incidences of vagrancy, delinquency and crime have been growing among steadily increasing juvenile population in the last few years. Various studies have revealed the presence of difficult family environment, lower socio-economic status, and low parental education associated with the psychiatric morbidity in children. Given the growth of juvenile delinquent population, epidemiologic data of this high risk group is becoming increasingly important. Therefore this study was undertaken to study the sociodemographic profile of male juvenile admitted in an observation home.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in an Observation Home for Boys. The study sample consists of 50 boys aged between 6-16 years. Out of 50, 20 juveniles under conflict of law and 30 under care and protection were included.Results: All the juveniles in this study were belonging to the lower socioeconomic status. Delinquency was significantly more common in older age group (12-16 years) than younger age group (6-11 years). The maternal education and school dropout rate had significant correlation with delinquency in our study, found to be more common in juveniles under conflict of law than those under care and protection.Conclusions: Establishment of multidisciplinary mental health services at each juvenile center of India, for complete rehabilitation of the juveniles admitted there, under social justice system is immediately required.

A cross sectional study of psychiatric morbidity in juvenile boys admitted in an observation home

Background: It is estimated that 10-20% of children and adolescents are affected annually by psychiatric problems. Studies in several countries across three continents have repeatedly shown that young offenders have higher rates of psychiatric morbidity than youths in the community. Given the growth of juvenile delinquent population, epidemiologic data on their psychiatric evaluation is becoming increasingly important. Thus, to study the psychiatric morbidity in juvenile delinquent boys in an observation home was undertaken.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in an observation home for boys. Study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Prior to conducting the study, informed written consent was sought from the superintendent of observation home for boys. The study sample consists of 50 boys from the observation home aged between 6-16 years. Boys from observation home for whom responsible legal authority gave permission were included in the study.Results: Prevalence of individual psychiatric disorders was as follows: conduct disorder 23 (46%), anxiety disorder 05(10%), oppositional defiance disorder 04 (08%), mild mental retardation 03 (06%), depression 02 (04%), psychosis 01(02%), adjustment disorder 01(02%), disorders of emotions and conduct 01 (02%). In our study prevalence of psychiatric disorder was more common in juveniles under conflict of law (19 out of 20) than juveniles under care and protection (25 out of 30).Conclusions: Initial screening of juveniles in observation home by expert mental health care professionals is needed for the rational management of psychiatric morbidity and enhancement of their development towards productive adulthood and productive integration into the general society.

Lived Experiences of Egyptian Female Juvenile Delinquents: Phenomenological Approach

Historically delinquency was considered the domain of boys, but recently female juvenile delinquents are a sizeable minority of the overall delinquent population, henceforth, current study aimed to explore the lived experiences of female juvenile delinquents in Egypt. A qualitative research approach was achieved by conducting focus group discussions with delinquent females and in-depth interviews with key workers from three residential correctional institutions in Egypt. Findings indicated that female juvenile delinquency is a multidimensional phenomenon resulting from stacking sets of strained relationships, community, & individual triggering factors. Ultimately the crux of female juvenile delinquency is the family.

Racial differences in academic achievement among juvenile offenders

Racial differences were examined in academic achievement among a large, diverse juvenile delinquent population in the Southwestern United States. Participant data were collected from the University of Arizona Juvenile Delinquency Project (UAJDP) database. Academic measures included school absences; grade point average; standardized reading, writing, and math achievement scores; and, special education placement. Results showed significant differences among racial groups on all measures of academic achievement. Whites had higher passage rates on standardized tests in math, reading, and writing, as well as higher GPA, compared to all racial minorities except for Asians. Native-American youth performed lower on most academic measures compared to other racial groups and had significantly more absences than any other racial group. Moreover, Whites had the highest rates of special education whereas Asians had the lowest. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of future research and public policy issues.

Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress, and comorbidities in female adolescent offenders: findings and implications from recent studies

While males constitute the majority, female adolescent offenders are a sizeable minority of the overall delinquent population. Further, those females who become involved in delinquent activities appear to be doing so at a younger age, and they are involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including violent offenses. The goal of this article is to consolidate an empirical base for our current knowledge about female juvenile offenders’ trauma-related mental health and rehabilitation issues. We searched for studies using PILOTS, PsycLIT, PsycINFO, and EBSCOhost electronic databases. Accordingly, we present a review of findings from 33 recent studies showing consistently high rates of trauma exposure, PTSD, and common comorbidities among female adolescent offenders. We also examined recent literature on risk and protective factors for female delinquency, as well as treatments for offenders, and found that there was some early representation of trauma and PTSD as important variables to be considered in etiology and treatment. Future plans for addressing the mental health needs of female offenders should be better informed by these recent findings about widespread trauma exposure and related psychological consequences.

Why criminal behavior of chronic delinquents could be even strengthen after forensic treatment?

The efforts of the formal system of government to achieve social reintegration of chronic offenders is reflected, inter alia, through the application of a large number of educational and training retrain and therapeutic treatment in penal institutions. However, they still do not give the desired results. So, in this paper we analyze the results of studies that investigate effects of various forms of forensic treatment on the criminal re-offend. It was found that, in this context, it is important to determine whether the offender has a psychological predisposition toward antisocial behaviour, and whether deviations are present which do not have the character of mental illness, but have the impact on stubbornly chronically maintaining delinquency. Based on the results of empirical data from the relevant studies and practical experiences of forensic therapeutic experts, it was found that some forms of treatment, including training for development social skills, life skills, and empathy, for certain categories of violent offenders, not only does not lead to the expected reduction of violence, but even at first glance, paradoxical result, as many as five times more frequent criminal recovery, compared to the same category of offenders who are not covered by treatment. When this tendency is particularly worrying that in these cases the victims are subjected to insidious attacks against and become more vulnerable because they are representatives of the criminal justice system misled the attackers to make treatment safer. The paper points out the possible reasons for such negative outcomes of treatment and is located contraindicated category form of forensic psychotherapy to the riskiest psychological profile. It was estimated that the usual methods of psychotherapy and mental needs advisory applied in clinical trials in patients unsuitable for delinquent population. It was concluded that any rehabilitation treatment must be designed in accordance with psychological characteristics of the target group and each individual delinquents. Beside that, it is necessary to ensure the continued education of representatives of the judiciary in this area, as order to prevent damage due to indiscriminate referral of offenders to treatment contraindicated.

Justification of Aggression in Young Reoffenders

The degree of acceptance of various forms of aggression in different situations was analyzed by administering self-report questionnaires. Previous studies on justification of interpersonal aggression, in 'normal' adult populations, in quite different cultures, have shown overall similar, but not identical, features. A similar trend of justification, but at a higher level, was expected in special 'deviant' populations, such as prisoners and psychiatric patients. The present study focuses on the way in which young re-offenders serving in reformatories justify different types of interpersonal aggression in a variety of settings. As a control population, a sample of students of similar age living in the same area was used. Results: the young delinquent population justified aggression at a higher level than 'normal' teenagers of similar age in all situations, except 'when communication breaks down'. Specifically their justification of physical aggression as well as of threatening was also higher, whereas no significant differences were found related to passive aggression (hindering) or verbal emotional acts (shouting, being furious, or showing rage). In certain situations a rather striking prevalence among girls was observed. In conclusion, young delinquents showed a higher justification of aggression, notably of its most drastic physical forms, in virtually all situations.

An Evidence‐Based Approach to Reducing Recidivism in Court‐Referred Youth

The authors obtained recidivism data on a predominantly Latino/a sample of juvenile offenders within a 24‐month period following their participation in a community‐based psychoeducational counseling program emphasizing life skills development. The treatment group was compared with a sample of youth derived from the same database who had participated in community probationary programs. Youth in the treatment group had statistically significant less recidivism in a 24‐month period subsequent to completing the program than did youth in the control group.

Child Delinquents: Examining the Market for Criminal Futures

This article investigates child delinquency (offenders younger than 13 years of age). The population of child delinquents under various dispositions in the state of Louisiana, at one point in time, is described. Eighty youth are examined using the following characteristics: Race, Gender, Age, Offense Type (violent, nonviolent) Crime Category (felony, status offense, misdemeanor, and felony or misdemeanor) and Disposition (supervision, secure custody, and non-secure custody). Child delinquency is an important topic because the younger the age of first offense the greater the probability of a delinquent and criminal career. Findings reveal very few youth in secure custody and black males account for over half of the population of child delinquents. Over 75% of the population was 12 years of age.

Association between mental health disorders and juveniles' detention for a personal crime.

Youth involved with juvenile courts often suffer from mental health difficulties and disorders, and these mental health disorders have often been a factor leading to the youth's delinquent behaviours and activities. The present study of a sample population (N = 341), randomly drawn from one urban US county's juvenile court delinquent population, investigated which specific mental health disorders predicted detention for committing a personal crime. Youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder diagnoses were significantly less likely to commit personal crimes and experience subsequent detention, while youth with bipolar diagnoses were significantly more likely. Co-ordinated youth policy efforts leading to early identification and treatment of bipolar disorder symptoms may be necessary.

Visual screening of incercerated juvenile delinquents: a study of boys and girls remand homes, lagos state.

Visual characteristics of fifty (36 males and 14 females) incarcerated juvenile delinquents with forty six (consisting of 34 males and 12 females) incarcerated non delinquents in the defined population were compared using the New York State Optometric Association vision screening battery (NYSOA) and the minimum school vision screening programme. A chi-square test analysis revealed significantly higher frequencies for phoria, hyperopia, pursuit and saccadic eye movement subtests in the juvenile delinquent population as compared to the control group. Further analysis revealed significantly higher frequencies for convergence, phoria, hyperopia, pursuit and saccadic eye movement subtest (P Keywords : Visual acuity, Visual status, Visual skills, Stereo-acuity Annals of Biomedical Science Vol. 2 (1) 2003: pp. 11-19

Role of sex hormone-binding globulin in the relationship between sex hormones and antisocial and aggressive personality in inmates

Plasma total testosterone (TT), free bioavailable testosterone (BT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHGB), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were analysed in a sample of 89 inmates. Also, the tendency towards an Antisocial Personality Disorder (AAPS) and Aggressiveness (based on an index containing three scales of the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory; BDHI) was assessed. Results showed strong correlations between SHBG, total testosterone and free bioavailable testosterone. SHBG and total testosterone correlated with Aggressiveness (0.39 and 0.29, respectively), though the latter turned out not to be significant when SHBG level was controlled. The group with a high probability of Antisocial Personality Disorder and the group with high scores in Aggressiveness obtained higher SHBG levels. Recidivists and subjects already sentenced presented higher concentrations of SHBG. No significant relation was found for the free bioavailable testosterone. It is argued that the relationship between testosterone and antisocial personality and aggressiveness is mediated by the role of SHBG. We conclude that subjects with a disinhibited life-style tend to abuse intoxicants affecting the production of SHBG in the liver. This effect is observed in healthy subjects and delinquents, but more strongly in the population of delinquents.

The validity of questionnaire self-report of psychopathology and parent–child relationship quality in juvenile delinquents with psychiatric disorders

The present study focuses on the validity of questionnaire self-report of psychopathology and parent–child relationship quality for juvenile delinquents with severe behavioural and psychiatric disorders by comparing information derived from questionnaire self-report with information from other sources, including parent report, in-depth interviewing, behavioural observation by clinicians, and official criminal records. The sample consisted of N=33 juvenile delinquents with psychiatric disorders. The juvenile delinquents did not report increased levels of psychopathology or poor relationships with their parents, which is inconsistent with the fact that all juvenile delinquents were in day treatment for severe behavioural maladaptation and relationship problems. Moreover, parent ratings of psychopathology were consistently in the clinical range and relationship quality was evaluated as very poor by the parents ( d>.80). We conclude that screening instruments for psychopathology and assessment of relationship quality relying on questionnaire self-report may not yield valid scores in this (extreme) population of juvenile delinquents.

Caractéristiques psychosociales d'adolescents souffrant de troubles du comportement

Objective To compare a population of young delinquents with adolescents issued from the general population in order to identify the social and relational characteristics in adolescents with behavior disorders. Method The French version of the ADAD (Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis) was submitted to 80 adolescents from the general population aged 13 to 20 years (mean: 16.5 years) and 32 adolescents issued from an educative centre aged 11 to 18 years (mean: 15.6 years). Results Significative differences between the two populations were found in different life areas: school, social life and relations with peers, family, psychological, legal, drug use, alcohol use. Conclusion The ADAD appears as an appropriate instrument in this study since it allows to identify the most important social and relational characteristics in young delinquents.

Other-Sex Friendship Involvement among Delinquent Adolescent Females

Ninety-two delinquent and nondelinquent African American and Hispanic adolescent females (ages 13 to 17) from Los Angeles County were interviewed to determine the likelihood of male friendship selection. Using both qualitative and quantitative measures, the group’s demographic backgrounds, friendship selection, and quality were compared. Additionally, delinquent girls completed measures examining their self-perceptions and feelings of loneliness. Results indicate that delinquent girls are significantly more likely than nondelinquent girls to identify males as their closest friends. Age of friend, perceived advantages of the friendship, and involvement in delinquent and similar activities are related to male friendship selection. The results also reveal that delinquent girls with male friends do not differ from the female-friend groups on quantitative measures of friendship quality. Finally, among the delinquent population only, no differences between friendship groups exist for feelings of loneliness, competence, and self-worth.

The Overcontrolled Hostility Scale

The present study examined the validity of Megargee's Overcontrolled Hostility Scale for use with a delinquent and violent adolescent population. Archival Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) data were collected on 18 adolescent murderers, 18 violent (but nonmurdering) young offenders, and 18 nonviolent youths convicted of property offenses. The MMPI was administered to a comparison group of 18 adolescent nonoffenders. The homicide group was divided into two groups based on documented instances of the offender's aggressive behavior prior to committing a homicide: the aggressive homicide subgroup and the nonaggressive homicide subgroup. Moderate but statistically nonsignificant effect sizes were found between adolescent murderers and all other adolescent groups on the scale. These results suggest that overcontrolled hostility may be present in adolescent murderers. Implications for assessment and treatment are discussed.