Adolescent Recidivism Research Articles

Juvenile Justice- and Dual System-Involved Youth: The Role of Primary Caregiver Monitoring Habits on Juvenile Recidivism

Objectives: Test whether primary caregivers’ monitoring habits protect against recidivism among juvenile justice and dual system youth and whether dual system contact moderates the relation between monitoring habits and recidivism. Methods: Among a sample of 519 male adolescents, logistic regression analyses were conducted assessing the relation between primary caregiver effort, knowledge, and monitoring on violent, non-violent, and overall self-reported recidivism six months following their first arrest. Results: Primary caregiver knowledge moderately protected against all forms of juvenile recidivism, regardless of whether youth had prior child welfare system contact. Dual system youth were less likely to engage in non-violent and overall recidivism than those without prior child welfare system contact. Dual system contact did not moderate the relation between monitoring habits and recidivism. Conclusions: Results suggest that primary caregiver knowledge is protective against recidivism among male juvenile justice and dual system involved youth, although the present study was limited in providing detailed information regarding child welfare system contact and maltreatment. Results support parental monitoring habit education in child welfare and juvenile justice systems to reduce adolescent recidivism.

Testing the Role of Emotion Dysregulation as a Predictor of Juvenile Recidivism.

The current study proposed to determine whether adolescent emotion regulation is predictive of the amount and type of crime committed by adolescent juvenile offenders. Despite evidence in the literature linking emotion regulation to behaviour problems and aggression across the lifespan, there is no prior longitudinal research examining the predictive role of emotion regulation on adolescent recidivism, nor data regarding how emotion regulation relates to the occurrence of specific types of crimes. Our primary hypothesis was that poor emotion regulation would positively and significantly predict re-offending among adolescents. We tested our hypothesis within a binary logistic framework utilizing the Pathways to Desistance longitudinal data. Exploratory bivariate analyses were conducted regarding emotion regulation and type of crime in the service of future hypothesis generation. Though the findings did not indicate a statistically significant relation between emotion regulation and reoffending, exploratory findings suggest that some types of crime may be more linked to emotion regulation than others. In sum, the present study aimed to examine a hypothesized relation between emotion regulation and juvenile delinquency by identifying how the individual factor of dysregulated emotion regulation may have played a role. This study’s findings did not provide evidence that emotion regulation was a significant predictor of recidivism over time but did suggest that emotion regulation is related to participation in certain types of crime one year later. Directions for future research that build upon the current study were described. Indeed, identifying emotion regulation as a predictor of adolescent crime has the potential to enhance current crime prevention efforts and clinical treatments for juvenile offenders; this is based on the large amount of treatment literature, which documents that emotion regulation is malleable through treatment and prevention programming.

FEAR-BASED OBSERVATIONS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT DEMANDS IN SCHOOL SITUATIONS

Little research has been done on the issue of fear and anxiety as critical motivators in an individual’s behavior as a juvenile in detention. This research studies adolescents who are serving sentences in juvenile detention centers and study at penitentiary schools, based on E. Hussliein’s projective method “School Fear Test” (School Angs Test or SAT). The data, through studied school situations, is obtained in a method free from conscious protection and organized according to the form and intensity of the subjects' fears and their fear-inducing stimuli. The case study involves a comparison of 50 male juveniles aged 14-18, half of whom were incarcerated, with the other half randomly chosen from a pool of boys who have never been incarnated. The research studies specific emotional-motivational characteristics emanating from the subjects’ school perceptions to assess the behavioral risks related to mental health and the internal psychological problems of juvenile offenders. The obtained data revealed that while there is a higher rate of physical manifestation of fear, there is a lower rate of future-oriented fear. This combination of affective and emotional traits makes adolescents more likely to engage in careless behaviors, which increases their risk of delinquency. Also, for imprisoned juveniles, a teacher’s personality is the most potent catalyst for inducing fear through demanding achievement in school situations. This data is important for educational settings and schools in penitentiary institutions to understand better the role of a teacher and their use of resources to prevent antisocial behavior and recidivism in adolescents. Keywords: emotional functioning, juvenile offenders, penal system, projective techniques, school fears

Responsive Aggression Regulation Therapy (Re-ART) Improves Executive Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults with Severe Aggression Problems: A Pilot Study.

This pilot study (N=25) compared the effects of a short, four-month version of Responsive Aggression Regulation Therapy Outpatient (Re-ART Compact) and the entire, ten-month intervention (Re-ART Complete) on specific executive functioning (EF) and the risk of violent recidivism in adolescents and young adults (13-23years). Re-ART is a cognitive behavioral-based intervention for adolescents and young adults with severe aggression problems. The Re-ART Compact and Re-ART Complete groups were comparable on the EF measures inhibition, flexibility, emotion regulation, self-evaluation, and self-control, but the Re-ART Complete group showed more improved risk of violent recidivism. We conclude that Re-ART Compact can be used as a compact, short intervention for EF, which is a valuable addition to the field of forensic mental health care where many problem behaviors relate to poor EF.

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.

The Relationship of Spirituality and Mental Health to Recidivism

This study examined the relationship of adolescent spirituality and mental health to recidivism in a sample of incarcerated adolescent males. Mental health has been strongly linked to adolescent problematic behavior, including delinquency and subsequent recidivism. Adolescent spirituality however, has not been explored to the same degree as mental health. There is little understanding for example, as to whether spirituality may act as a protective factor in regard to adolescent recidivism; particularly in the presence of other important factors. Both multidimensional measures and a longitudinal design were employed to explore spirituality and mental health during participation in, and after discharge from, a boot camp. Results support the likely importance of adolescent spirituality as a protective factor in regard to recidivism.

Does the Effect of Self-Regulation on Adolescent Recidivism Vary by Youths’ Attitudes?

Youth with poor self-regulation or criminal attitudes are at risk for recidivism. Researchers have yet to examine how self-regulation and criminal attitudes intermix to influence recidivism. The present study employed a large sample of 26,947 youth in the Florida Juvenile Justice System to examine the effect of criminal attitudes on the association between self-regulation and recidivism over a 1-year period. The results indicated that the influence of self-regulation on recidivism varied based on youths’ attitudes. Although self-regulation affected recidivism among youth with average (d y/d x = –.03, SE = .01, p < .001) and less criminal (d y/d x = –.05, SE = .01, p < .001) attitudes, self-regulation was not associated with recidivism among youth with more criminal attitudes (d y/d x = –.01, SE = .01, p = .150). These findings demonstrate mechanisms that may promote sustained justice system involvement and identify key levers for reducing youth recidivism.

The Relationship of Spirituality and Family Functioning to Recidivism: An Investigation with Incarcerated Adolescent Males

ABSTRACTFamily functioning has been strongly linked to adolescent problematic behavior, including delinquency and subsequent recidivism. Adolescent spirituality however, while demonstrating some evidence as a protective factor against some problematic outcomes, such as delinquent behavior, has not been explored to the same degree as other more well-established factors. There is little understanding, for example, as to whether spirituality may act as a protective factor for adolescent recidivism, particularly in the presence of other identified protective factors. This study sought to examine the relationship of adolescent spirituality and family functioning with recidivism in a sample of incarcerated adolescent males. A longitudinal design was employed to measure both spirituality and family functioning during and post discharge from a boot camp. Results support the likely importance of adolescent spirituality as a protective factor for recidivism.

Contextualizing Informal Labeling Effect on Adolescent Recidivism in South Korea.

Symbolic interactionism argues that the effect of informal labeling by general others, such as family and friends, on behavior depends on the social context under which labeling takes place. Despite abundant research on informal labeling, little effort has been made to contextualize its impact on adolescent reoffending. Also, compared with other theories, only a few studies have been conducted among youths in Asian population. Using three consecutive waves of self-reported survey data from a nationally representative sample of 2,406 Korean adolescents, this study examined an interactional model for the informal labeling effect. Findings suggest that informal labeling, as well as school commitment and delinquent peer association, has an independent effect on delinquency. Also supported is the symbolic interactionist hypothesis that adolescents with greater involvement in delinquent subcultures were less susceptible to informal labeling. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Treatment recidivism in adolescents with mental illness: A focused applied medical ethnography.

Treatment recidivism, described as frequent unplanned relapse readmissions, is a national problem predominant in adolescents with mental illness. Because the main triggers of treatment recidivism are not fully understood, the purpose of this study was to explore treatment recidivism (i) to better understand treatment recidivism from the perspectives of recidivist adolescents with mental illness, (ii) to describe major factors that contribute to treatment recidivism and how best to minimize them from the perspectives of these adolescents, and (iii) to describe their interaction with the medical culture. A focused applied medical ethnography was used to study 16 purposively selected adolescents. Interviews were conducted together with unobtrusive unit observation of the participants and collection of demographic and clinical information. The participants were nearly unanimous in identifying the "additional stressors" of problematic parental relations and school bullying as the main triggers of treatment recidivism over and above their "routine stressors" of adolescence and mental illness. They had mixed perceptions of treatment recidivism and described their interaction with the medical culture as positive. Further research is needed to determine the impact of parental relations and school bullying on recidivism in adolescents with mental illness.

Differences between juvenile offenders with and without intellectual disabilities in the importance of static and dynamic risk factors for recidivism

Juvenile offenders with intellectual disability (ID) have been largely ignored in the literature of risk assessment, while they are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and ID is a risk factor for juvenile delinquency and recidivism. The aim of this study was to examine whether there are differences between juvenile offenders with and without ID in the impact of risk factors for recidivism. Both the impact of static and dynamic risk factors were examined. Static risk factors were examined in the criminal history domain and dynamic risk factors were examined in the domains of family, school, use of free time, friends, alcohol/drugs, attitude, aggression and skills. This knowledge is important for both assessment and treatment of juvenile offenders with ID. The sample consisted of adolescents who appeared before the courts for a criminal act and for whom the Washington State Juvenile Court Assessment (WSJCA) was completed. The group of ID juvenile offenders (n = 102) consisted of juvenile offenders with a formal diagnosis of ID, which means a full scale IQ of less than 70, coupled with significant deficits in adaptive behaviour, with childhood onset. The juveniles of this group are special education students or they have a formal diagnosis of a special education need. The group without ID (n = 526), was a random sample of all juvenile offenders without a formal diagnosis of ID. No differences were found between juvenile offenders with and without ID in the impact of risk factors on recidivism in most domains. However, in the skills domain, the relations between all risk factors and recidivism were significantly stronger in adolescents without ID than in adolescents with ID. Although not or only borderline statistically significant, these risk factors were all negatively related to recidivism in adolescents with ID, whereas these risk factors were significantly and positively related to recidivism in adolescents without ID. There are few differences between juvenile offenders with and without ID in the impact of risk factors for recidivism, suggesting that the same assessment methods can be used for juvenile offenders with and without ID. There were, however, differences between juvenile offenders with and without ID in the skills domain. What these differences mean for the treatment of juvenile offenders is yet to be determined. For now it is important to be aware of potential negative (side) effects on recidivism when skills training is offered to juvenile offenders with ID.

67. Trauma Experiences Among Detained Youth: Predictors of Recidivism

Research has identified traumatic experiences as prevalent among juvenile offenders, however, little is known about the role of trauma on adolescent behavior or the role of trauma on recidivism. Adolescent recidivism has been shown to be strongly associated with alcohol and drug use and conduct related behaviors. As part of a broader research project assessing access to mental and physical health care by youth detained in a large, Midwestern detention center, we seek to understand the relationship traumatic experiences, alcohol and drug use, and conduct related behaviors have to recidivism.

REVISION DE PROGRAMAS DE INTERVENCIÓN PARA EL TRATAMIENTO DE LA VIOLENCIA FILIO-PARENTAL. UNA GUÍA PARA LA CONFECCIÓN DE UN NUEVO PROGRAMA (REVISION OF INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENT VIOLENCE AGAINST PARENTS. GUIDANCE FOR...

Violence against parents has experienced an important increase of reports interposed by parents abused by their children in recent years in our country. Actually Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in its report of October 2009, emphasizes that this is the most worrying offence type for its increase both in its incidence and in his recidivism in adolescents. For example, in 2002 there were 3,433 reports interposed by parents and 7,611 in 2007. And 76.9% of the professionals involved in caring for children highlighted a significant increase in reports of child-to-parent violence (Romero, Melero, Cánovas y Antolín, 2007). Although perhaps most worrying is that 86.1% of professionals interviewed by Ibabe, Juregizar y Díaz (2007) didn’t have knowledge of specific programs of primary, secondary or tertiary prevention to treat child-to-parent violence. Or, as is clear from the study of Romero et al. (2007), operators in the juvenile justice system said they were incompetent to act effectively on this kind of violence, demanding more training and resources to attend these adolescents. Therefore, after conducting a thorough review of intervention programs, national and international, for abused parents and children abusers and highlighting their deficiencies and effectiveness, we propose a basic guide to make an intervention program in cases of parent abuse.

Predicting Recidivism in Adolescents With Behavior Problems Using PCL-SV

Studies show that identifying persistent delinquents on the basis of early antisocial conduct yields a significant error rate. However, evaluating childhood or adolescent psychopathic traits is likely to improve matters in this regard. This study seeks to verify the contribution of psychopathic traits in adolescence to antisocial conduct prediction in early adulthood. To this end, a French version of the Psychopathy Checklist -Screening Version (PCL-SV) adapted to adolescents is used to evaluate psychopathic traits in 27 youths aged 15 to 19 years recruited in youth centres and presenting behavioral problems reaching a clinical threshold. The PCL-SV scores contribute significantly above and beyond indices of delinquent behavior to predict self-reported antisocial conduct 2 years later and, specifically, to predict criminal versatility and violent recidivism.

Evaluation of Trauma Center’s Driving Intervention Program

Source: Ekeh AP, Hamilton SB, D’Souza CD, et al. Long-term evaluation of a trauma center-based juvenile driving intervention program. J Trauma. 2011; 71: 223– 227; doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31821cc0fdResearchers from Wright State University in Ohio prospectively examined rates of recidivism among teen drivers convicted of moderate to severe traffic offenses, such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, or being at fault in a crash. Two groups of teens convicted of a similar range of such offenses were compared. One group consisted of teens ordered to participate in a comprehensive prevention program called “Drive Alive” (DA), which was developed as an alternative to traditional sentencing for a traffic conviction. It involved 10 hours over 4 weeks, based in a Level I trauma center. Sessions included exposure to simulated trauma sessions, interactive forums with former trauma patients and their families, meetings with state troopers, and education on drugs and alcohol as well as on driving safety. The control group consisted of a random sample of teens who had committed similar offenses to those in the DA group and received standard sentencing. Rates of recidivism (defined as any traffic citation) in the two groups were compared at six-monthly intervals up to 60 months.Data on traffic offenses of 488 teens (346 male, mean age 17.4 years) who completed the DA program between May 2003 and October 2008 were compared to driving records of 458 “control” teens (326 male, mean age 16.4 years). Over the first six months following completion of DA or traditional sentencing, teens in the DA group had significantly lower recidivism compared to controls (26.4% vs 32.3%, P=.04). This effect was most pronounced for those teens aged 16 or younger (P=.006). After six months these differences diminished and became nonsignificant. Throughout the 60-month study period, rates of speeding citations were consistently higher in the DA group than in the controls, while citations for crashes were lower.The authors conclude that “booster” sessions of the DA program beyond six months may be needed to sustain the initial results of less recidivism in adolescents enrolled in the program.Dr Nelson has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in teens and young adults.1 Young drivers convicted of traffic offenses are at elevated risk of repeat offenses and at-fault crashes,2 so efforts to reduce recidivism in these teens are well-justified. Unfortunately, educational efforts designed to foster safer driving among teens suffer from a paucity of research support;3 indeed, experts have decried the persistence of unjustified claims for the value of driver education.4 Therefore, the authors of the current study are to be commended for their rigor in evaluating the DA intervention by comparing actual driving records of the DA participants with those of relatively similar control subjects.The chief limitation of the study, which the authors recognize, is lack of randomization. While randomization in a judicial setting is probably logistically unfeasible, a key question left unanswered concerns what factors might have triggered judges’ decisions to send certain teens to the DA program. If these teens tended to have particular characteristics that distinguished them from other convicted teen drivers, the control group would be less comparable to the DA group, producing a potential to bias the findings in either direction. At the same time, the fact that the DA teens were a full year older than the controls might have produced some bias against the DA group, since older teens would likely have been driving more total miles than younger ones in the 60 subsequent months (and might have had greater access to vehicles).Ultimately, even though the DA program did achieve a reduction in recidivism over the initial six months, the authors’ suggestion that “continued education and possible booster interventions” might be necessary for sustaining the effect raises questions of cost and feasibility. A more justified, if humble, conclusion might be that, since such a well-conceived and delivered educational program produced only limited effects, and since teens’ attitudes and behaviors around driving are shaped by many social factors,5,6 we need to seek other methods of motivation. Some advocate a greater role for health care providers in individual education,7 but evidence supporting this approach is also scant. Greater peer or parent involvement might help. Still, we should note that the recent interventions credited with the greatest impact on teen driving outcomes, such as graduated driver licensing,8 have been legislative. Education in this area may work best when coupled with motivation in the form of stiff penalties for traffic convictions, and even stiffer ones for repeat offenses.

Predictors of Recidivism for Adolescent Offenders in a Singapore Sample

The purpose of the present study was to identify significant predictors of recidivism in a sample of 772 adolescent offenders in Singapore, using data collected from probation officers' reports. The findings indicated that reported father criminality, history of running away from home, history of aggression, and an earlier age of first criminal offense were significant risk factors for adolescent recidivism. These findings highlight the need to prevent an early foray into crime by seriously considering interventions that address issues of child and adolescent aggression. In addition, it would be necessary to target both adolescent-related and family-related variables in intervention. Implications for public policy and sentencing options for adolescents are discussed.

Chronic adolescents and young offenders: An overview of research findings

The present paper is an overview of studies examining chronic, persistent offending and recidivism in adolescents and young offenders. The review focused on published papers dealing with chronic offending of adolescents and young offenders. The paper provides the picture on definition on juvenile delinquency, definition of recidivism, measurement and operationalisation of recidivism, definition of chronic offenders, correlates and predictors of chronic offending, differences and similarities between chronic and non-chronic offenders, possible genetic influences in chronic offending, proportion of criminal activity attributed to chronic young offenders, factors differentially associated with initiation, escalation, persistence and desistance in juvenile offending. Overall the boundaries of the sociological approach to the study of chronic offending are stressed and the possible advantages of employing a social psychological approach to the study of chronic offending are noted.

Substance Use is a Robust Predictor of Adolescent Recidivism

How well does substance use predict adolescent recidivism? When the Cox proportional hazards model was applied to officially recorded first rearrest of 505 juvenile offenders, a best-fitting complex multivariate model indicated that: (a) parent reports that youths “often” use substances more than doubles first rearrest risk, (b) averaged youth and parent substance use reports predict recidivism better than a single source, (c) parent or youth denial of youth substance use predicts recidivism, (d) age at first arrest does not predict recidivism, (e) non-White/non-Asians have a 79% higher recidivism risk than peers, (f) parent-reported delinquency predicts recidivism with declining accuracy, and (g) substance use robustly predicts recidivism despite prior reported delinquency, gender, ethnicity, age, follow-up time, or data source. Findings are related to host-provocation theory.

A framework of trauma and trauma recidivism in adolescents and young adults.

Trauma resulting from violence and unintentional causes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, particularly among urban adolescents and young adults. Many of these injuries can be predicted because of participation of adolescents and young adults in risky behaviors. In addition, subsequent injuries to survivors can be predicted because of their return to risk taking behavior. This paper presents a model that addresses risk-taking behaviors, antecedents to risk taking, and the possible outcomes, including trauma and trauma recidivism. It focuses attention on the growing problem of trauma and trauma recidivism among adolescents and young adults and identifies implications for research and practice for trauma nurses.