NCJ Number
237509
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2012 Pages: 71-93
Date Published
January 2012
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the impact of youth perceptions along eight dimensions of an institutional experience on recidivism following release.
Abstract
Social scientists have long recognized that individual experiences in particular settings shape behavior, and as a result, many service sectors regularly evaluate client perceptions. This is not the case in the juvenile justice system. Using a sample of 519 serious juvenile offenders (92 percent male, ethnically diverse) from 2 sites, this study evaluated the impact of youth perceptions along 8 dimensions of an institutional experience on recidivism following release, with recidivism measured as self-reported antisocial activity, rearrest, or a return to a facility. The authors demonstrated that more positive perceptions within and across dimensions of the juvenile setting reduce involvement in the outcomes assessed, even after controlling for individual characteristics and facility type. Implications for juvenile justice practice and policy are discussed. (Published Abstract)