Male Juvenile Offenders Research Articles

Factors associated with treatment compliance in a population of juvenile sexual offenders.

Structural equation modeling was utilized to assess predictors of outcomes in a sample of 204 juvenile male sexual offenders participating in community-based treatment programming. Lower levels of client denial at intake predicted successful program compliance. Higher levels of denial were found in nonadjudicated youths. Although program attrition was high (50% in the first year), relatively few youths were expelled for sexual (4.9%) or nonsexual delinquency (6.6%) over a 12- to 24-month period. Program failure during years 1 and 2 was attributable largely to expulsion for failure to comply with attendance requirements and/or therapeutic directives. Youths failing to comply were found to have higher overall levels of measured sexual maladjustment and may be at greater long-term risk for sexual recidivism. Implications of the findings for clinical risk assessment, and directions for future research, are discussed.

Predicting Juvenile Recidivism:Using the Indiana Department of Correction's Risk Assessment Instrument

ABSTRACTThe Indiana Department of Correction uses a Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) to determine juvenile offenders' risk of recidivism and their placement in an IDOC facility. Although it is used to make important decisions, the RAI has not been well‐validated. This article describes a study of convicted male juvenile offenders to determine how well the IDOC instrument, which is similar to that used in several states, predicted recidivism. We found that the RAI did not predict recidivism in our sample.

The assessment of adolescent perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse

Prior to any intervention with juvenile sex offenders it is vital that a comprehensi ve assessment ofthe youth and his family be completed. To aid the clinician in conducting such an assessment the literature on the characteristics of male juvenile sex offenders, female offenders, and parents of young offenders is briefly reviewed. Guidelines for conducting a comprehensive clinical assessment of a sexually assaultive youth and his parents covering a number of key areas are outlined. These include obtaining reports from outside sources, taking a developmental. sexual, family, medical, and psychiatric history, and assessing the family’s current attitude towards the sexual offence. In particular, specific questions and areas of inquiry for completing a comprehensive sexual development/sexual offending history are suggested. This article concludes by highlighting the need for future studies to compare sexually abusive youth to other types of juvenile offenders and their non-offending peers, and the need for the development offorensicaJly sound assessment instruments for use with this population.

Juvenile female sexual offenders: Clinical characteristics and treatment issues

The phenomenon of juvenile female sexual offending was explored through the study of 67 youths who had been referred for either community-based or residential treatment following a documented history of sexual perpetration. These youths were compared to a group of 70 juvenile male sexual offenders across three parameters: developmental and psychiatric characteristics, history of maltreatment, and sexual perpetration characteristics. Relative to the juvenile males, the histories of the studied females reflected even more extensive and pervasive childhood maltreatment, with many of the youths exposed to the modeling of interpersonal aggression by females as well as males. The majority of these juvenile female sexual offenders demonstrated repetitive patterns of sexual offending with multiple victims, suggesting psychosexual disturbances equivalent in severity to the comparison group of males. The authors discuss typological impressions of this clinical population and their special treatment needs.

Juvenile Female Sexual Offenders: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Issues

The phenomenon of juvenile female sexual offending was explored through the study of 67 youths who had been referred for either community-based or residential treatment following a documented history of sexual perpetration. These youths were compared to a group of 70 juvenile male sexual offenders across three parameters: developmental and psychiatric characteristics, history of maltreatment, and sexual perpetration characteristics. Relative to the juvenile males, the histories of the studied females reflected even more extensive and pervasive childhood maltreatment, with many of the youths exposed to the modeling of interpersonal aggression by females as well as males. The majority of these juvenile female sexual offenders demonstrated repetitive patterns of sexual offending with multiple victims, suggesting psychosexual disturbances equivalent in severity to the comparison group of males. The authors discuss typological impressions of this clinical population and their special treatment needs.

The caring needs of African American male juvenile offenders.

This naturalistic field study, using ethnonursing methods, was conducted to describe the social and cultural care needs of African American juvenile offenders. This focus is important to consider when planning transcultural nursing care to this group. Data were collected using Leininger's Observation-Participation-Reflection Enabler, and general and key informant interviews with five juveniles (12 to 15 years old) living in a southeastern inner city in the United States. The data analysis revealed a general theme of survival in the face of loss. Losses were conceptualized as the departure or absence of something or someone of value in the juvenile's life. Losses were categorized into the domains of family losses, social losses, and self-identity losses. Four categories of losses unique to each domain were a loss of caring, a loss of protection, a loss of discipline, and a loss of support. The threat to survival was the dominant theme of each type of loss. Implications for transcultural nursing care were formulated based on Leininger's three modes of culture care: cultural care preservation, cultural care accommodation, and cultural care repatterning. These care modes guided culturally congruent nursing actions with African American male juvenile offenders who have experienced losses which were a threat to their health, well being, or survival.

Immediate Assessment of Adolescent Sex Offenders Seen at the Police Station

Every juvenile sex offender is seen on the day of detention at the police station. This project is based on the assumption that early intervention may prevent male juvenile sex offenders from developing into sexually abusive men. Assessment of the offense, diagnosis, and treatment of the juvenile have proven to be helpful. The project occurred at Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Four-factor model of recidivism in male juvenile offenders

(1995). Four-factor model of recidivism in male juvenile offenders. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 250-257.

Longitudinal Aspects of Reconviction: Secure and Open Intervention with Juvenile Offenders in Northern Ireland

Abstract: This study examines baseline and comparative serious offending among a large sample of 592 male juvenile offenders sentenced to secure and open forms of residential custody in Northern Ireland training schools. Analysis of baseline offending reveals no significant difference in prior seriousness of offending between juvenile offenders placed in secure custody compared to open residential custody. Trend analyses of subsequent reconviction show that the additional level of reconviction associated with secure custody is of the magnitude of 7% to 15% at one and three yearfollow‐up periods. Other findings show that shorter lengths of stay in custody are associated with lower levels of subsequent reconviction; that for both forms of custody lower rates of reconviction are associated with juveniles who commit crimes of violence or sexual offences and higher rates of reconviction are associated with those juveniles who commit motoring offences or theft; longitudinally, as adults, there is a high level of persistent offending among these former juvenile offenders with an increasing proportion (20%) engaging in violent crime.

Perceived Parental Deviance, Parent-Child Bonding, Child Abuse, and Child Sexual Aggression

Structural equation modeling was used to test a theoretical model of the etiology of deviant sexual aggression by adolescents. The subjects were 117 juvenile male sexual offenders who had been referred from either criminal justice or social service agencies to a clinic that treated offenders. The tested theoretical model included several family factors: perceived parental deviance, child physical and sexual abuse history, and children's bonding to their parents. The model as a whole fit the data well. Results indicated that physical abuse by the father and sexual abuse by males increased sexual aggression by adolescents. Also, children's bonding to their mother was found to decrease their sexual aggression. These results are explainable from a social learning perspective and from a parent-child attachment, or social control, perspective, but the alternative perspectives of evolutionary psychology are also considered. Directions for future research are suggested.

Perceived parental deviance, parent-child bonding, child abuse, and child sexual aggression

Structural equation modeling was used to test a theoretical model of the etiology of deviant sexual aggression by adolescents. The subjects were 117 juvenile male sexual offenders who had been referred from either criminal justice or social service agencies to a clinic that treated offenders. The tested theoretical model included several family factors: perceived parental deviance, child physical and sexual abuse history, and children's bonding to their parents. The model as a whole fit the data well. Results indicated that physical abuse by the father and sexual abuse by males increased sexual aggression by adolescents. Also, children's bonding to their mother was found to decrease their sexual aggression. These results are explainable from a social learning perspective and from a parent-child attachment, or social control, perspective, but the alternative perspectives of evolutionary psychology are also considered. Directions for future research are suggested.

The relationship between traumatic exposure, family dysfunction, and post-traumatic stress symptoms in male juvenile offenders.

This study examined some chronic, stressful conditions and some acute, traumatic events which may place youths at risk for specific types of psychopathology. Ninety one delinquent adolescents with histories of serious and repeated crimes were assessed for their exposure to 11 different types of trauma. The subjects were also tested using measures which assess family functioning, and frequency and intensity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results indicated that 24% of the subjects tested met full DSM III-R criteria for PTSD. Both exposure to violence and family dysfunction were significantly associated with PTSD symptomatology. These findings suggest that juvenile offenders may constitute a high risk group for exposure to multiple types of trauma and the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms related to such exposure. This study provides a rationale for future cross-trauma research both within the juvenile offender population and between it and other identified trauma groups.

The relationship between traumatic exposure, family dysfunction, and post‐traumatic stress symptoms in male juvenile offenders

AbstractThis study examined some chronic, stressful conditions and some acute traumatic events which may place youths at risk for specific types of psychopathology. Ninety one delinquent adolescents with histories of serious and repeated crimes were assessed for their exposure to 11 different types of trauma. The subjects were also tested using measures which assess family functioning, and frequency and intensity of Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results indicated that 24% of the subjects tested met full DSM III‐R criteria for PTSD. Both exposure to violence and family dysfunction were significantly associated with PTSD symptomatology. These findings suggest that juvenile offenders may constitute a high risk group for exposure to multiple types of trauma and the development of post‐traumatic stress symptoms related to such exposure. This study provides a rationale for future cross‐trauma research both within the juvenile offender population and between it and other identified trauma groups.

Comorbidity of conduct disorder and personality disorders in an incarcerated juvenile population

Youths with conduct disorder extract an inordinate amount of time and money from the U.S. judicial system and taxpayers, yet studies pertaining to this population have been few. This study was undertaken to examine the co-occurrence of personality disorders and conduct disorder in a group of incarcerated children and adolescents and to raise the issue of the possibility of antisocial personality disorder in persons under the age of 18 years. One hundred incarcerated juvenile offenders aged 11-17 years were randomly selected and then interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents--Revised and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders to establish their psychiatric diagnoses. Eighty-seven percent of the group met the criteria for conduct disorder. Among those diagnosed as having conduct disorder, the only comorbid personality disorder that was present with significant frequency was antisocial personality disorder. The other comorbid personality disorder diagnoses that appeared most frequently were the borderline, narcissistic, paranoid, passive-aggressive, and dependent types. Borderline personality disorder was observed more frequently in the females than in the males with conduct disorder. The findings suggest that by using DSM-III-R criteria for adult personality disorders, one finds a considerable number of personality disorders in a young population with conduct disorder. The findings also show that youths manifest signs of antisocial personality disorder before they are 18 years of age, raising the question of how age should be incorporated into the diagnosis of personality disorder as DSM-IV is being prepared.

The utility of self-concept as a predictor of recidivism among juvenile offenders.

Forty institutionalized male juvenile offenders in the United States were administered a Role Construct Repertory Grid (Kelly, 1955) and the Self-Consciousness Scale (Fenigstein, Scheier, & Buss, 1975) to determine whether frequent offenders could be differentiated from infrequent offenders on the basis of these instruments. We hypothesized that the frequent offenders would have more "delinquent" self-concepts than the infrequent offenders. The results did not confirm this hypothesis. In fact, the frequent offender group actually had fewer delinquent self-concepts than the offender group, although the trend was not statistically significant. This finding is interpreted as an indication that some offenders who acknowledge their delinquent orientation are better able to apply their personal resources toward control of their behavior.

Evaluation of a multi-component group treatment program for juvenile delinquents

The present study provided an evaluation of a preliminary version of “Equipping Youth to Help One Another” [EQUIP; Gibbs and Potter, 1987; Gibbs et al., in press], a multi-component group treatment program for juvenile delinquents and other youths with antisocial conduct disorders. EQUIP assimilates the social skills training, anger management, and moral education components of Aggression Replacement Training [ART; Goldstein and Glick, 1987] into a modified Positive Peer Culture [PPC; Vorrath and Brendtro, 1985] group format. The subjects were 57 male juvenile offenders aged 15-18 who were incarcerated at a medium-security correctional facility. The subjects were randomly assigned either to the EQUIP experimental unit or to one of two control groups. EQUIP subjects relative to control subjects evidenced significant improvements in institutional conduct and recidivism rates, reflecting, to some extent, gains in social skills. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Myth Information and Bizarre Beliefs of Male Juvenile Sex Offenders

The author describes mythical beliefs, thinking errors, and faulty attitudes collected from a group of male juvenile sex offenders. Therapists need this information to develop effective treatment strategies for replacing distortions and misperceptions with correct and moral information as a foundation for change.

The family relations, peer relations, and criminal activities of Caucasian and Hispanic-American gang members

Juvenile gang members present serious problems to society, yet few empirical studies have examined their criminal activity, family relations, and peer relations in comparison with other highly antisocial youths. In a 2 (Gang Membership) x 2 (Ethnicity: Hispanic-American vs. Caucasian) design, 131 incarcerated male juvenile offenders were administered a battery assessing criminal activity, family relations, and peer relations. Results demonstrated (a) higher rates of criminal behavior (i.e., general delinquency, index offenses, school delinquency) among gang members than among offenders who did not belong to gangs, (b) higher rates of general delinquency and home delinquency among Caucasian offenders than among Hispanic-American offenders, and (c) greater aggression and less social maturity in the peer relations of gang members than in the peer relations of offenders who did not belong to gangs. In addition, gang membership mediated sociocultural differences in hard drug use. Findings are integrated with the extant literature.

The incidence of depressive symptomatology in juvenile sex offenders with a history of abuse

Depressive symptomatology was assessed in a sample of 246 male juvenile sex offenders using the Beck Depression Inventory. Of these participants, the racial composition was black = 147, Hispanic = 62, Caucasian = 34. Three adolescents elected not to identify their racial origin. Subjects were divided according to their self-reports of having been sexually or physically abused. The mean Beck score across all subjects was 14.3, a value markedly higher than published norms and indicative of mild depression. Forty-two percent of subjects attained scores indicative of appreciable depressive symptomatology. A history of sexual or physical abuse was significantly related to high Beck scores; abused subjects had a mean Beck score of 16.4, as contrasted to 12.3 for nonabused subjects (Wilcoxon test: z = 2.82; p < .005). This relationship was apparent across all racial groups. While Hispanic subjects tended to have higher Beck scores and Caucasians lower scores, racial differences were not statistically significant. Results indicate that juveniles who have committed sexual crimes, particularly those with a history of abuse, should be evaluated for depression.

Toward the Nonpathological Assessment of Behavioral and Conduct Disordered Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral problems of 113 adjudicated male juvenile offenders from the normalized, circumplex personality assessment perspective used in the Personal Styles Inventory. The results of the investigation suggest that this assessment model provides correctional practitioners a valid assessment, which is easily understood, sensitive to the needs of both the youth and their families, and useful in developing the goals required of student individual service plans. The findings are discussed in relation to other classification models, as well as their implications for public and residential care treatment programs.