Juvenile Assessment Center Research Articles

Subgroups of Persistent Juvenile Offenders: Latent Class Analysis of Repeated Juvenile Assessment Center Entries

ABSTRACT Many juvenile justice agencies rely on risk assessments to inform administrative decisions about youth placement. While many studies within recent years have explored patterns in criminal offending over time, little research has explored the heterogeneity in youth placement decisions by the juvenile justice system. There is a need to document the patterns, levels, and trends in offense risk among youth entering and reentering the justice system. This study used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of n = 388 male juveniles repeatedly entering a U.S. juvenile justice system based on youth placement decisions. The persistent juvenile offenders were best classified into either a moderately increasing risk placement group or a severely increasing risk placement group. The moderately increasing group experienced more bullying involvement, while the severely increasing group was older and experienced more sexual assault, sexual partners, treatment for drug use problems, and elevated depression. Policy recommendations are made.

Assessing the Validity of Self-Reports of Marijuana Use among Adolescents Entering the Juvenile Justice System: Gender Differences

ABSTRACT Objective: Scant research exists on the validity of self-reported marijuana use using biological assays among adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. This exploratory study examined gender (sex) differences in underreporting of marijuana use and the impact of age, race/ethnicity, living situation, depression, family problems, sexual risk behaviors, previous drug treatment, and juvenile justice placement. Methods: Self-reports of past year marijuana use were validated with urinalysis, and those testing positive for marijuana use were selected for study. The sample was 256 females and 885 males, aged 12 to 18, entering an urban juvenile assessment center in a southeastern U.S. state between 2017 and 2019. Results: Results indicated significant differences in marijuana underreporting (tested positive but self-reported no use), with 37% of females and 55% of males underreporting use. For males, Hispanic ethnicity, African American race, sexually transmitted infection (STI), and secure detention placement increased the odds of underreporting, while having an incarcerate parent and previous drug treatment decreased the odds. For females, number of sexual partners decreased the odds of underreporting of marijuana use. Conclusion: These findings imply use of collateral information, such as urine tests, as a recommendation for juvenile justice intake to corroborate self-reports and guide risk assessment.

Influence of maltreatment, bullying, and neurocognitive impairment on recidivism in adolescents with conduct disorder: A 3-Year prospective study

We sought to clarify the influence of family developmental conditions (e.g., adverse childhood experiences: ACEs), peer relationships (e.g., bullying), and neurocognitive impairment on recidivism in adolescents with conduct disorder (CD). We interviewed 290 adolescents with CD (265 males, 25 females) who had been admitted to a juvenile justice assessment center for the first time about their offense(s), onset of delinquency, ACEs, and peer relationships. The participants also completed tests of neurocognitive activities and self-report symptom measures: the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the Memory Updating test for the assessment of attention, the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) for the assessment of dissociation, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11th version (BIS-11) for the assessment of impulsivity. After the family court judgement and discharge, the participants were followed for 3 years. Readmissions to the center during the follow-up period were considered cases of “recidivism.” During the follow-up, 102 (35.2%) participants were readmitted to the center. A survival analysis (Cox proportional hazard model) showed that lower age, bullying (as the perpetrator), and impaired cognitive function (e.g., a lower SDMT score) significantly increased recidivism, whereas bullying (as both victim and perpetrator) decreased recidivism. ACEs showed no clear effect on recidivism. Lower age and impaired cognitive function appear to predispose adolescent first-time offenders with CD to recidivism. However, the peer bullying analysis showed that being a perpetrator positively influenced recidivism, whereas being both a victim and a perpetrator negatively influenced recidivism. Further research considering the heterogeneity and comorbidity of CD could clarify bullying’s influence on recidivism.

Online Education and Case Management.

Jennifer T. Lauderdale, BA, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Sociology from California State University, Bakersfield. She was a program facilitator at the New Directions Group Home for Girls, a specialized facility responsible for children aged birth to 17 years, including teen mothers and their babies. Jennifer was responsible for medication supervision, nutrition, supporting activities of daily living, enabling the teen mothers to attend school without their children, tutoring, life skills instructor, and vocation counseling. After moving to Colorado in 2008, she worked for 6 years for the 18th Judicial District Juvenile Assessment Center, where she had the privilege of working with children and their families throughout Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties by coordination services and navigating the juvenile justice system. As a learning coach for the past 4 years, she has come to love and advocate for online education and all its benefits. She was and is so enthusiastic about the opportunity to share her knowledge, insight, and experience so much so that she became a family compliance liaison for Colorado Preparatory Academy and Pikes Peak Online School to further the mission and vision that she has been so passionate about. When Jennifer is not working, you may find her fishing and camping with her family at one of Colorado's state parks. Address correspondence to Jennifer T. Lauderdale, BA, 3560 South Rifle St., Aurora, CO 80013 ([email protected]). Case Management Matters WELCOMES and INVITES YOU tosubmit articles, stories, practice tips and refl ections, and revelations. How has case management changed you? How have you affected the lives of others? All inquiries, questions, comments, and manuscripts should be submitted via e-mail to: [email protected] or by mail to: Lynn S. Muller, P.O. Box 164, Bergenfield, NJ 07621-0164.Do you have an idea for an article and would like to discuss it? Provide contact information via e-mail and you will be contacted by your preferred method or call 201-387-7600.The author reports no conflicts of interest.

Evaluation of an Innovative Post-Arrest Diversion Program: 12-Month Recidivism Analysis

ABSTRACT We report the results of an evaluation study of a diversion program, operated by the Miami-Dade County Juvenile Assessment Center in Florida. The Post-Arrest Diversion (PAD) program represents an innovative approach to treatment and intervention within the juvenile justice system that utilizes standardized psychosocial risks and needs assessment to provide individual treatment for first-time, non-violent juvenile offenders. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the PAD program with regard to one-year follow-up recidivism. The sample is comprised of 409 youths (255 male; 154 female) who entered PAD between April and June of 2003. Stepwise, Poisson and OLS regression analyses of the effects of socio-demographic characteristics, type of charges leading to program involvement, recidivism risk level, PAD completion, and arrests while in PAD on the number of recidivism arrests and charges were conducted. The findings suggest that successful completion of PAD significantly reduces recidivism.

Recently Arrested Adolescents are at High Risk for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Adolescent offenders may be at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). With previous research and interventions focused on incarcerated adolescents, data are needed on STD prevalence and risk factors among newly arrested youth released to the community, a far larger subgroup. Participants were recruited from all arrested youth processed at the Hillsborough County, Florida Juvenile Assessment Center during the last half of 2006 (506 males, 442 females). Participants voluntarily providing urine samples for drug testing as part of standard protocol were also consented to having their specimens split and tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea, using an FDA-approved nucleic acid amplification test. STD prevalence was similar to those previously reported among incarcerated adolescents: 11.5% tested positive for chlamydia, 4.2% for gonorrhea, and 13.2% for either or both infections. Prevalence was significantly higher among females: 19.2% of females had either or both infections compared with 10.5% of males. Prevalence was higher for 17 to 18 year olds (15.2% of males, 25.5% of females), blacks, detained youths, drug users, and those engaged in sexual risk behaviors. Previous STD testing experience was limited. The study indicated that a voluntary STD screening protocol is feasible for arrested youth entering the juvenile justice system, and these offenders are at high risk for STDs. Because most arrested youths are released back to the community, routine testing and treatment of recently arrested youths, and expanded access to risk reduction and prevention programs, can yield substantial public health benefits.

Lifetime Suicide Attempts in Juvenile Assessment Center Youth

To describe suicide risk in youth seen at a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), we examined relationships among self-reported lifetime attempts and demographic, justice, and psychiatric data via logistic regression. Similar to other settings, youth reporting lifetime attempts were more likely to be older, female, not living with both parents and currently arrested for a violent or felony crime. Mood, substance use, and behavior disorder each increased prediction substantially. Anxiety Disorder was associated with elevated attempt rates for boys only. JACs need to develop protocols for identifying suicide risk; further, since suicide history predicts future attempts, Anxiety Disordered boys may be at particular risk.

Psychiatric Disorder in a Juvenile Assessment Center

Juvenile assessment centers (JACs) were developed to address service fragmentation and promote the sharing of information among agencies providing services to youth involved with the juvenile justice system. To date, there are no reports that describe the diagnostic profiles of the youth served by such centers. The authors hypothesize that the rates of psychiatric disorder among youth at JAC intake would be lower than rates reported for youth in secure care, that girls would show higher rates of some disorders, and that those with substance disorders would show higher rates of other, co-occurring disorders. Disorder was measured on the Voice Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children in 1,012 randomly selected youth (248 girls). Rates of disorder for JAC youth are lower than those reported for incarcerated samples and more comparable to other general intake samples; JAC youth's diagnostic profiles remain elevated compared to youth in the general population, and girls report higher rates of disorder in three of four diagnostic clusters examined. Clinical and policy implications are discussed.

Correlates of Male and Female Juvenile Offender Abuse Experiences

ABSTRACT This paper reports the results of developing and evaluating a classification of 315 arrested youth processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center from September 1, 1994 to January 31, 1998. Youth were characterized as physically or sexually abused if they reported abuse or if they had been referred to juvenile court for abuse. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that family problems, friends' substance use, and delinquency involvement (marginally significantly related) were associated with both physical abuse and sexual victimization. In addition, physical abuse was associated with psychological problems and sexual victimization with being female, being older, and own substance use. The research implications of these results are discussed.

Strengths-Oriented Referrals for Teens (SORT): Giving Balanced Feedback to Teens and Families

Despite the great advances in the development of assessment procedures for adolescent substance abuse (Dennis, 1998; Rahdert, 1991; Winters, 1992), very little literature exists that informs clinicians about how to best deliver clinical feedback from substance abuse evaluations to teens and families. We address this gap in the literature by describing a strengths-based protocol called Strengths-Oriented Referral for Teens (SORT). Following is a look at the theoretical basis for SORT, a description of the intervention, and a discussion of quality assurance procedures used in training therapists. SORT was developed through a project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which sought to expand and enhance adolescent substance abuse treatment. It is a clinical feedback session that occurs after an initial substance abuse evaluation at our comprehensive assessment center. Modeled after Dembo's Juvenile Assessment Center concept (Dembo & Brown, 1994), this one-stop assessment program is structured specifically to help teens navigate the fragmented service delivery system, reduce duplication in assessment across the system of care, and provide targeted referrals. MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING A major component of SORT is motivational interviewing (MI), which combines elements of client-centered therapy with behavioral principles (Miller & Rollnick, 2002). The major concepts underpinning this approach include empathic listening, rolling with resistance, providing feedback, and offering a menu of options. This model can be contrasted with the Minnesota Model of substance abuse (Winters, Stinchfield, Opland, Weller, & Latimer, 2000), which emphasizes clients' acceptance of their substance abuse as a disease. In the Minnesota Model, which was heavily influenced by 12-step philosophy, abstinence from chemicals was the only viable goal. One of the major strategies in treatment was confronting clients' denial related to their substance use. In MI the emphasis is on getting the client to elicit self-change statements through careful questioning and active listening. Thus, mutually developed and appropriate treatment goals emerge and facilitate behavior change. MI has only recently been applied to adolescent populations. Some adaptations exist, including a five- and 12-session intervention (that is, the Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [MET/CBT5, MET/CBT12]) developed in the Cannabis Youth Treatment study (Dennis, Titus, Diamond, et al., 2002; Diamond et al., 2002). These two MI-based interventions are cost-effective and were found to reduce substance use and abuse or dependency problems in a large randomized trial (Dennis et al., 2004). Our application of MI elements in SORT is designed to increase an adolescent's motivation to use services (particularly drug treatment) beyond the initial assessment. SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY In solution-focused therapy (Berg & Miller, 1992; deShazer, 1988), therapists use carefully constructed questions that presuppose action and active problem solving. It is inherently present focused and action oriented. Techniques in solution-focused therapy include asking scaling questions, exception-finding questions, and other questions designed to elicit the clients' goals. A scaling question used in our intervention is, On a scale of one to 10 where one is 'not willing at all' and 10 is 'completely ready,' how ready are you to follow through with this referral? This question can be followed up with a question to gauge what would make the client more willing to use a service. For example, if a client responds that he or she is a three on this scale, a therapist might ask, What would have to be different for you to move up to a four or a five? In this way, barriers to going to treatment are explored in greater depth. Exception-finding questions are designed to elicit the client's strengths by asking what they have done to prevent their problems from becoming worse. …

The Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center National Demonstration Project

(2005). The Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center National Demonstration Project. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation: Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 1-37.

Diversion from the Juvenile Justice System: The Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center Post-Arrest Diversion Program*

Many arrested youth present with multiple problems, including substance use and mental health problems, poor academic performance, and often come from violent homes and neighborhoods. These problems are directly associated with delinquent behavior and status offenses, presenting challenges to justice agencies, which must respond to these factors to support youths' resources and resiliencies and to reduce the probability of recidivism. The Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center implemented a diversion program for first-time, nonviolent youth. The Post-Arrest Diversion (PAD) program provides systematic, standardized screening and assessment, individualized case planning, an extensive referral service, and case management and follow-up.

Impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention on Delinquent Behavior

We report the results of a growth model analysis of the impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI) on the self-reported involvement in delinquency among youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center who entered a NIDA funded project between September 1, 1994, and January 31, 1998. Families involved in the project were randomly assigned to either receive an Extended Services Intervention (ESI) or the FEI. Families in the ESI group received monthly phone contacts and, if indicated, referral information; FEI families received three one-hour, home-based meetings per week for approximately 10 weeks from a clinician-trained paraprofessional. By seeking to improve family functioning by empowering parents, it was hypothesized that target youths' behavior and psychosocial functioning would improve. Analysis indicated that reported frequency of involvement in delinquency declined more over time for FEI completers than other youths in the study. The results provide support for the impact of FEI services on reported frequency of delinquent behavior over a 36-month follow-up period.

A Classification of High-Risk Youths

The authors report the results of developing and evaluating a classification of 315 arrested youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center in Tampa, Florida. Cluster analysis of summary measures of nine baseline alcohol/other drug use and self-reported delinquency variables identified four groups of youths: (a) low-level delinquents and drug users, (b) high-level delinquents, (c) hair-test-identified marijuana and cocaine users, and (d) self-reported drug users. The validity of the typology was assessed by comparing the clusters of youths on their(a) educational experiences; (b) delinquency referral history; (c) neglect, abuse, and family problem history; (d) close friends’ problem behavior; and, of particular interest, given the focus of the analyses, (e) emotional/psychological functioning and mental health and substance abuse treatment history. The findings indicate the youths were experiencing overlapping delinquency, alcohol/other drug use, and emotional/psychological problems. The cooccurrence of these problems among youths entering the juvenile justice system extends findings of their co-occurrence reported in studies of incarcerated youths.

Innovative Approaches to Identifying and Responding to the Needs of High Risk Youth

Following a critical review of key issues facing the delivery of effective, cost-attractive services to high-risk youth, and research addressing these experiences, we identify some innovative approaches to identify and respond to the multiple needs of these youth. The importance of providing family services with an ecological focus is stressed. Further, some exciting developments occurring in juvenile assessment centers, involving screening and in-depth assessment, as well as intervention strategies are presented. These innovative developments include for the Tampa Juvenile Assessment Center: 1) a family empowerment intervention service for arrested youth; 2) a family-focused early-intervention, intensive case management service for youth entering a diversion program; and 3) for the Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center, the comprehensive program of research and program development occurring in the context of the National Demonstration Project. We conclude with a discussion of major issues facing the field and the continuing need for a national commitment to help the many troubled youths entering the juvenile justice system.

Testing a Longitudinal Model of the Relationships Among High isk Youths' Drug Sales, Drug Use and Participation in Index Crimes

ABSTRACT Baseline, one-year and two-year follow-up interviews were obtained from 164 arrested youths processed at a juvenile assessment center in a prospective longitudinal study. A structural equation model that included cross-sectional and longitudinal associations among drug (alcohol and marijuana), drug sales and index offenses was supported by the data. Research, theoretical, and policy implications of the results are drawn.

THE IMPACT OF A FAMILY EMPOWERMENT INTERVENTION ON JUVENILE OFFENDER HEAVY DRINKING: A LATENT GROWTH MODEL ANALYSIS*

We report the results of a growth model analysis of the impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI) on the heavy drinking over a 36-month follow-up period among youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center. Families involved in the project were randomly assigned to either receive an Extended Services Intervention (ESI) or the FEI. Families in the ESI group received monthly phone contacts and, if indicated, referral information; FEI families received three one-hour, home-based meetings per week for approximately 10 weeks from a clinician-trained paraprofessional. By seeking to improve family functioning by empowering parents, it was hypothesized that target youths' behavior and psychosocial functioning would improve. Although the difference between FEI and ESI was not significant, the reported frequency of getting very high or drunk on alcohol declined more over time for FEI completers than FEI noncompleters. The results provide support for the impact of the FEI services.

Long-Term Impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention on Juvenile Offender Psychosocial Functioning

We report the results of a study of the long-term impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI) on the psychosocial functioning among youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center who entered the project between September 1, 1994 and January 31, 1998. The FEI seeks to improve family functioning by empowering parents. Families involved in the project were randomly assigned to either receive an Extended Services Intervention (ESI) or the FEI. Families in the ESI group received monthly phone contacts and, if indicated, referral information; FEI families received three one-hour, home-based meetings per week from a clinician-trained paraprofessional. The results provide support for the sustained effect of FEI services. Analysis indicated that youths who completed the FEI had statistically significant lower rates of reported getting very high or drunk on alcohol, and claimed frequency of participation in crimes against persons, drug sales, and total delinquency, at last observation, than youths not completing the FEI. The results add to the findings of our earlier 12-month psychosocial functioning outcome analyses, which provided strong evidence of the salutary effects of the FEI.

Long-Term Impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention on Juvenile Offender Recidivism

We report the results of a study of the long-term impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI) on recidivism among all 303 youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center who entered the project. The FEI seeks to improve family functioning by empowering parents. Families involved in the project were randomly as signed to either receive an Extended Services Intervention (ESI) or the FEI. Families in the ESI group received monthly phone contacts and, if indicated, referral information; FEI families received three one-hour, home-based meetings per week over a 10-week period from a clinician-trained para-professional. The results provide support for the sustained effect of FEI services in reducing recidivism. Analysis indicated that youths who completed the FEI experienced marginally statistically significant, lower rates of new charges and new arrests than youths who did not complete the FEI. The results add to the findings of our earlier 12-month recidivism analyses, which provided strong evidence of the deterrence effects of the FEI.

Testing a Longitudinal Model of the Influence of Family Problem Factors on High Risk Youths' Troubled Behavior: A Replication and Update

ABSTRACT Using data collected in a study of 163 arrested youths processed at a juvenile assessment center, who entered a home based family intervention project, we test a longitudinal, developmental damage model of the relationships between the youths' family problems (including their abuse experiences) and their drug use and delinquent behavior over time. The hypothesized model, specifying family problems affect the youths' problem behavior at Time 1 and Time 2, was supported by the data, involving both self-reports of physical and sexual abuse and official records of physical and sexual abuse, and neglect. Theoretical and policy implications of the results are drawn.