Sociodemographic, Delinquency-Abuse History, and Psychosocial Functioning Differences Among Juvenile Offenders of Various Ages

• NCJ Number: 176741
• Journal: Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: 1998 Pages: 63-78
• Author(s): R Dembo; J Schmeidler; B Nini-Gough; D Manning
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study compared the sociodemographic characteristics, delinquency and dependency referral histories, and psychosocial functioning of 856 8- to 12-year-olds, 2,512 13- and 14-year-olds, and 6,215 15- to 20-year-olds, processed at the Hillsborough County (Florida) Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), between May 5, 1993, and December 31, 1995.

Abstract

The selection of three age ranges for the youths was not intended to describe the effect of age. Instead, the ranges distinguish developmental stages. Analyses of covariance were performed to identify variables that distinguished between the three age groups after controlling for the effect of age per se. All predictors that referred to arrest charges, delinquency history, or substance abuse were more severe in the older aged youths (15 to 20) and less severe among the younger youths; however, the demographic predictors and the lag between actual age and school grade were more "severe" in the younger youths and less severe in the older youths. The younger youths, who had less time to develop and establish delinquent behaviors, were likely to have these other characteristics. In contrast, older youths, who typically exhibit delinquent behavior did not apparently have the other, nondelinquency characteristics. These findings, together with the experience that these youths and their families are less likely to access mental health and other services than other youths and that this population of youths is expected to increase in the next 10 years, raise significant issues for American society. Particularly, all indications are that more of these youths, who have significant needs for various services, will be entering the justice system in the next decade. They will bring with them significant dependency and delinquency histories. Attention and effective intervention programs must be directed now to these youths and their families. 5 tables and 15 references