Impact of Neighborhood Disadvantage and Exposure to Violence on Self-Report of Antisocial Behavior Among Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

• NCJ Number: 226382
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 401-416
• Author(s): Preeti Chauhan; N. Dickon Reppucci
• Date Published: March 2009
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): CE 000956-01; 54020; 84567
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health & Human Services; Virginia Dept of Juvenile Justice; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using a longitudinal research design that involved 122 Black and White girls incarcerated in juvenile facilities, this study assessed the impact of neighborhood disadvantage and exposure to violence (direct physical abuse by parents and peers and witnessing violence) prior to incarceration on the girls’ postrelease violent and delinquent behavior.

Abstract

The findings indicate that Black girls (n=69) were more likely than White girls (n=53) to have lived in disadvantaged neighborhoods prior to their incarceration; however, both racial groups reported similar levels of exposure to violence and personal antisocial behavior. Physical abuse by parents, time at risk, and age were related to postrelease violent behavior, and having witnessed violence and time at risk were related to delinquent behavior. Multiple group analyses identified race-specific pathways. Physical abuse by parents was related to violent behavior for White girls; and witnessing violence was related to both violent and delinquent behaviors for Black girls. Community programs and after-school programs that reduce the opportunity to witness violence and engage in violence would assist in reducing girls’ opportunities to witness violence. In addition, intervention efforts that target both individuals and communities in preventing and treating physical abuse should be continued, enhanced, and expanded. Wave I data collection was conducted while the girls were incarcerated and focused on individual assessment based on self-report and archival data. Wave II collected data after the girls had been released from the correctional facility for a minimum of 6 months (96 percent of the original sample). Various instruments were used to collect data on neighborhood disadvantage, being a victim of violence, witnessing violence, and having committed violent and delinquent behavior. 2 tables, 7 figures and 71 references