Demographic Differences in Youth Perceptions of Staff: A National Evaluation of Adjudicated Youth

Author(s):  
Casey A. Pederson ◽  
Paula J. Fite ◽  
Jonathan L. Poquiz

Despite the large societal and personal cost associated with the detainment of juvenile offenders in residential facilities, little is known about the factors that contribute to youth behavior while incarcerated. One factor that may be of importance to maintaining security within facilities and improving rehabilitation efforts is youth’s perceptions of correctional staff, namely, youth’s perceptions of positive staff characteristics (e.g., friendliness; helpfulness) and staff behavior toward youth (e.g., fair punishments). Accordingly, the current study used the National Survey of Youth in Custody across two cohorts to better understand youth perceptions about staff by examining rates of these perceptions within juvenile detention centers nationwide. Furthermore, given the overrepresentation of marginalized groups in the justice system, systematic differences in youth’s perceptions about staff were evaluated based on demographic characteristics, including age, race, sex, and sexual orientation, to better understand how these characteristics influence youth perceptions. Results suggested several significant differences based on demographic characteristics, with the most prominent and consistent differences associated with race and age, with Black youth and older youth having the least positive views of staff. Interestingly, non-heterosexual youth were more likely to view staff characteristics as positive than heterosexual youth. Implications of findings are discussed.

Author(s):  
Anna Pękala-Wojciechowska ◽  
Andrzej Kacprzak ◽  
Krzysztof Pękala ◽  
Marta Chomczyńska ◽  
Piotr Chomczyński ◽  
...  

The article focuses on a less-discussed issue of social marginalization of people leaving penitentiaries, which is the prevalence of multifaceted health problems experienced by people in this category. It includes poor health status, resulting from, among others, poor housing conditions, harmful or risky lifestyle, and lack of access to medical services. Data from the District Inspectorate of the Prison Service in Lodz, Poland on the health conditions of inmates was accessed. These data were supplemented by qualitative research conducted in 21 juvenile detention centers and 8 prisons across the country, conducting direct observations and In-Depth Interviews (IDI). A total of 198 IDIs were conducted with incarcerated (72) and released (30) juvenile offenders, and incarcerated (68) and released (28) adult offenders. These were complemented by IDIs with experts (50) and Focus Group Interviews (FGIs; 8) with male and female inmates in 4 Polish prisons. The study revealed that mental and physical health is a serious obstacle to social reintegration of ex-prisoners. It is rarely addressed by state institutions. There are strong associations between neglect of health issues in the prison population and increasing social exclusion after leaving prison. As Poland has a restrictive penal policy, former prisoners remain a group with social stigma and little support.


Crisis ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Morgan ◽  
Keith Hawton

Summary: Suicide rates in prisons in England and Wales are high, including those in juvenile detention centers. Previous deliberate self-harm (DSH) is the strongest predictor of suicide in the general population. There is limited information on how many juvenile offenders (15 to 18 year-olds) have a history of DSH at the time of entering custody, or on factors associated with previous DSH. We aimed to determine the prevalence of previous DSH and suicidal ideation in a population of juvenile offenders in custody and to identify factors associated with DSH and suicidal ideation. Seven out of 45 subjects (15.6%) reported an act of DSH in the past. Twelve (26.6%) reported past suicidal ideation. Peer relationship difficulties and sexual abuse were significantly associated with DSH (p < 0.05). Other factors showed a trend toward being more common among those with DSH, but the premature ending of the project by the juvenile detention center prevented full investigation of the extent of DSH and associated factors. Nevertheless, the results indicated a much higher rate of DSH in this population than in young males in the community. A larger joint project with juvenile detention centers is required to confirm the extent of previous DSH at the time young offenders are admitted, and the associated risk factors, in order to assist prevention and intervention strategies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (14) ◽  
pp. 2383-2405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Pechorro ◽  
Michael C. Seto ◽  
James V. Ray ◽  
Isabel Alberto ◽  
Mário R. Simões

The present study examines the utility of three self-report measures of psychopathic traits in predicting recidivism among a sample of incarcerated male juvenile offenders. Participants ( N = 214, M = 16.40 years, SD = 1.29 years) from seven Portuguese juvenile detention centers were followed and prospectively classified as recidivists versus non-recidivists. Area under the curve (AUC) analysis revealed that the Antisocial Process Screening Device–Self-Report (APSD-SR) presented the best performance in terms of predicting general recidivism, with the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) and the Childhood and Adolescent Taxon Scale–Self-Report (CATS-SR) presenting much poorer results. However, logistic regression models controlling for past frequency of crimes and age of first incarceration found that none of these self-report measures significantly predicted 1- or 3-year recidivism, whether general or violent. Findings suggest there are limitations in terms of the incremental utility of self-report measures of psychopathic traits in predicting recidivism among juveniles.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-134
Author(s):  
Tea Panchulidze ◽  
Ketevan Makashvili

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


Crisis ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay M. Hayes

Abstract. The first national study of juvenile suicide in confinement in the United States determined the extent and distribution of juvenile suicides (in juvenile detention centers, reception centers, and training schools); as well as gathered descriptive data on demographic characteristics of each victim, characteristics of the incident, and characteristics of the juvenile facility which sustained the suicide. Significant findings were found in the areas of time and location of the deaths, as well as adequacy of suicide prevention measures in facilities sustaining the deaths.


2021 ◽  
pp. 009385482199841
Author(s):  
Melinda Reinhardt ◽  
Zsolt Horváth ◽  
Boglárka Drubina ◽  
Gyöngyi Kökönyei ◽  
Kenneth G. Rice

Significantly higher rates of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) have been discovered among justice-involved juveniles. Our study aimed to discriminate homogeneous subgroups of justice-involved youth with different self-harm behavior characteristics based on latent class analysis. A total of 244 adolescents (92.6% boys; Mage = 16.99, SD = 1.28) in Hungarian juvenile detention centers completed measures of NSSI and dissociation. High-NSSI (Class 1; 9%), moderate-NSSI (Class 2; 42.6%), and low-NSSI (Class 3; 48.4%) profiles were detected relating to different forms of NSSI. Multiple comparisons showed that girls were members of Class 1 and 2 at higher rates and these subgroups showed significantly higher dissociation proportions than Class 3. Our findings pointed out diversity in self-harm profiles with different characteristics in terms of methods and severity of self-harm, experienced emotions, and other emotion regulation tendencies among justice-involved adolescents. These results suggest sophisticated treatment approaches to match variations in severity and presentation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 001112872199933
Author(s):  
Kendra Thompson-Dyck

Leveraging point-level spatial data from the Phoenix area, we consider the role of nearby organizations as contextual factors that amplify or reduce reoffending risk among juvenile offenders after court completion. Using survival models, we examine whether residential proximity to seven types of organizations impacts risk of recidivism, net of neighborhood disadvantage and offender characteristics. Aggregate neighborhood disadvantage was not associated with reoffending risk and organizational findings were mixed. Low-level offenders with more total organizations nearby had a higher risk of new property offenses, while the risk of drug and violent reoffending nearly doubled for diversion youth residing near police facilities or detention centers. Individual demographics and prior offense histories remained the strongest, most consistent predictors of juvenile recidivism.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S367) ◽  
pp. 402-403
Author(s):  
Natalia Guevara ◽  
Rodrigo F. Haack ◽  
Victoria B. Acosta ◽  
María A. Senn ◽  
Carolina A. Silva ◽  
...  

AbstractThe “Right to the night sky” outreach project holds astronomy workshops for children and teens deprived of their liberty in juvenile detention centers. It is carried out by an interdisciplinary group of students, graduates, and teachers of Astronomy, Geophysics, Educational Science, Law, Psychology, Social Work, and Social Communication. It’s has been accredited and recognized by the Faculty of Astronomical and Geophysical Sciences, and the National University of La Plata (Argentina) since the year 2014. This work presents the diverse activities developed in the project, the methodologies used, and an analysis of how the project evolved, grew, and expanded over time, continuing what has already been presented by Charalambous et al. (2014) and Haack et al. (2019)


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