Recidivism Among High Risk Youths: A 2 1/2-Year Follow-up for a Cohort of Juvenile Detainees

• NCJ Number: 134956
• Journal: International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 26 Issue: 11 Dated: (1991) Pages: 1197-1221
• Date Published: 1991
• Author(s): R Dembo; L Williams; J Schmeidler; A Getreu; E Berry; Genung; E D Wish; C Christensen
• Length: 25 pages
• Grant Number(s): 86-IJ-CX-0050; 87-JN-CX-0008
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored; OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

This study -- part of an ongoing longitudinal study of a cohort of youths who entered a detention center in Tampa, Fla., between December 1986 and April 1987 -- determined whether the youths' alcohol or other drug use (measured by self-report and EMIT urine test results), physical abuse or sexual victimization histories, or emotional/psychological difficulties at point of entry into secure detention related to subsequent arrests for additional offenses (recidivism).

Abstract

The sample consisted of 398 youths who were 72 percent male, 51 percent Anglo, and 41 percent African-American. Interviews were used to obtain data on subjects' backgrounds and experiences. Data on recidivism were obtained from official records of juvenile or adult arrests during the 24 months and 30 months following the first interviews. Separate analyses were performed on the youths' records of arrest for violent felony offenses, property felony offenses, drug felony offenses, and public disorder misdemeanor offenses. Two regression analyses were run for each of these variables. Statistically significant relationships were found between the youths' demographic characteristics (age, race, gender), referral history, reason for placement in the detention center, cocaine use, and recidivism. Implications drawn for social policy include early education and intervention to address youths' drug and mental health problems. 3 tables and 66 references