<p>In forensic psychology, adolescents who display psychopathic traits could be distinguished from other peers by the early onset of their violent criminal behaviors and repetitiveness of unlawful actions. These adolescents tend to demonstrate expressions of psychopathic traits such as manipulative tendencies, deceitfulness, lack of empathy and remorse, impulsiveness, and irresponsibility in relations with others. Examining early expressions of psychopathy may help clinicians better understand how psychopathy manifests and develops, and perhaps identify the developmental period when the traits are least stable and potentially more responsive to treatment. It is still unclear if psychopathic traits in adolescent females can be measured by the same factor structures present in current measurement tools, and whether or not psychopathic behaviors seen in adolescent males are the same in adolescent females. Interpersonal and affective deficits within psychopathy also overlap with several forms of relationally aggressive behaviors seen in adolescent females; therefore, relationally aggressive behaviors could contribute to or correlate with psychopathy. This study examined the relationship between relational aggression and psychopathic traits amongst a sample of incarcerated adolescent females. An exploratory factor analysis was executed to determine the reliability and validity of the Youth Psychopathic Inventory (YPI) and Diverse Adolescent Relational Aggression Scale (DARAS) with an incarcerated adolescent female population. Correlational analyses were completed to demonstrate a positive relationship between relational aggression and psychopathic traits. Finally, a factorial MANOVA was performed to demonstrate no distinguishable significant differences with age and race/ethnicity in regard to relational aggression and psychopathic traits within this population. </p>

<p> Female youth are a growing population in the juvenile justice system; however, research on female justice-involved youth is lacking relative to male counterparts. As research suggests this population has experienced higher rates of trauma, the purpose of this study was threefold: first, to describe the extent of complex trauma exposure and sequelae, second, to evaluate the utility of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument&ndash;Version 2 (MAYSI-2) Trauma Experiences (TE) scale related to complex trauma, and third, to analyze the relationship between complex trauma and comorbid diagnoses of incarcerated adolescent females, using a developmental trauma framework. The present study used archival data from the records of 229 adolescent females, ages 13 to 20, who were remanded to a maximum security juvenile justice facility in Illinois. Scores from the MAYSI-2 TE scale were collected as well as Clinical Needs Assessments that provided demographic information and data regarding trauma exposure and sequelae. A developmental trauma rubric was specifically designed for this study based on the DSM-5 proposed developmental trauma disorder (DTD) diagnosis. Trauma-related data was mapped onto the rubric for the purpose of identifying youth with complex trauma reactions and comparing this data with MAYSI-2 TE scale scores. Exploratory analyses laid a foundation for understanding complex trauma exposure and sequalae among incarcerated female adolescents. As expected, over three fourths of participants were exposed to repeated interpersonal traumas with youth experiencing an average of five different types of trauma exposure. Contrary to the first hypothesis, the MAYSI-2 TE scale was significantly correlated with complex trauma exposure. The second hypothesis was supported, which was contrary to the literature on the subject, and indicated that the MAYSI-2 TE scale scores decrease upon re-assessment after re-admission to the facility. Finally, the third hypothesis revealed nearly universal comorbid diagnoses among the sample (97.4%) and a relationship was found between the proposed developmental trauma disorder diagnosis and diagnoses of personality, bipolar and related, neurodevelopmental, and trauma and stressor related disorders. These results suggest that screening for trauma should be a high priority in juvenile justice settings and that while the MAYSI-2 TE scale score is related to complex trauma exposure, added screening is warranted to identify trauma-related symptoms. Additionally, alternative screening strategies may be useful for those returning to the facility as these youth&rsquo;s TE scale scores were found to be lower than those initially incarcerated as well as lower than their previous scores. Finally, the field would benefit from the adoption of a complex trauma diagnosis to prevent inadequate and inaccurate diagnoses being given when the etiology of symptoms is trauma-based.</p>

<p> Historically, juveniles have been viewed by society as less mature and less blameworthy than adults (Scott &amp; Grisso, 1997). Since its inception, the juvenile justice system has taken on a parenting role for juveniles and has attempted to rehabilitate juvenile offenders instead of punishing them. However, during the 1980s and 1990s, as a result of a perceived increase in violent juvenile offending, American society began to treat juveniles as adults based on the severity of their crimes (Grisso, 1997). The current study examined whether evidence regarding a juvenile&rsquo;s competence to stand trial and crime committed have an effect on potential jurors&rsquo; verdicts of guilty or not guilty. This study also examined the participants&rsquo; perceptions of a juvenile&rsquo;s level of responsibility based on evidence regarding competency and crime outcome. Participants consisted of members of the general public who were jury-eligible. Participants received one of four randomly assigned vignettes varying only by competency to stand trial (not mentioned, incompetent and restored, or competent) and outcome of crime (death or serious injury). After reading a given vignette, participants were asked whether they would find the juvenile guilty or not guilty. They were also asked to rate the juvenile&rsquo;s level of responsibility on a scale of 1 (<i>not at all responsible</i>) to 5 (<i>very responsible</i>). This study found that a juvenile&rsquo;s competence to stand trial and the results of the crime committed (injury versus death) have no effect on potential jurors&rsquo; verdicts of guilty or not guilty. The results did suggest that the participants&rsquo; perceptions of a juvenile&rsquo;s level of responsibility based on evidence impacts a verdict of guilty versus not guilty. Further, a competent juvenile who was found guilty of an offense resulting in death was found highly responsible for the act. In contrast, a juvenile who was not competent and was found not guilty of an offense resulting in death was perceived to be less responsible.</p>

<p> Homicides linked to serial killers comprise a small percentage of the total number of murders committed in the United States, as well as overseas; however, there has always been an immense interest in these type of killings due to the mysterious nature of their perpetrators and their motives for killing. This small percentage could be due to the decreased incidence of the mental illnesses usually associated with serial killers (i.e., Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychopathy), and advances in police investigative methods such as DNA matching that have resulted in a higher rate of solved murders, and consequently fewer serial killers still at large. Many theories have been proposed to try to explain why serial killers murder their victims. The most popular of these theories is the organized and disorganized dichotomy of serial killers&rsquo; methods. By using this theory and linking it with both Alfred Adler&rsquo;s (1928) theory of birth order and Michael Kirton&rsquo;s (1976) adaptor and innovator theory the relationship between a serial killer&rsquo;s birth order and the types of victims he chooses can be explored. </p>

<p> Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are conditions characterized by frontal lobe deficits. Past research has shown increased violent and aggressive behavior in both conditions; however, few studies have examined the mechanisms driving this relationship, particularly in non-athlete or non-veteran populations. The current study examined the neurodegenerative effects of repeated mTBI over time on cognitive flexibility and stability deficits in a homeless population. Additionally, we investigated the mediating effects of these deficits on the impact of both repeated lifetime mTBI and presence of an SSD on violent crime. Consistent with expectations, the number of lifetime mTBIs positively predicted violence levels across multiple measures of violent crime, however cognitive flexibility and stability deficits did not mediate this relationship. Furthermore, comorbidity of mTBI and SSD increased the frequency of violent crimes greater than either condition alone. Implications for risk assessment, intervention strategies and violence reduction are discussed.</p><p>

Cognitive-behavioral anger management groups have been established as an efficacious treatment for anger and aggression problems in adolescents. A central issue in providing anger management groups as a community-based treatment for court involved adolescents is attrition. No studies have investigated predictors of attrition from this intervention. This study investigated individual and environmental predictors of attrition from a community-based anger management group intervention for court-involved adolescents. Forty-one adolescents participated in this intervention. These participants reported on the following predictors of treatment attrition: (1) mental health, (2) academic progress, (3) aggressiveness, (4) goals, (5) attitude toward behavior change, (6) delinquent peers, (7) parental monitoring, (8) frequency of family meals, (9) life changes, and (10) pro-social community activities. A series of logistic regression equations were used to determine which of the ten aforementioned risk factors for delinquency might predict treatment attrition. The four predictors that emerged (p < .05) were entered into another regression equation. As a result three predictors, being classified as academically behind (B = −3.44, S.E. = 1.35, p = .01), attitude towards aggressive behavior change (B = −3.71, S.E. = 1.34, p = .01), more delinquent peers (B = .72, S.E. = .29, p = .01), significantly predicted treatment attrition. This three-predictor model correctly classified 82.5 percent of the participants as completers or dropouts, and accounted for 52% of the variance in treatment attrition. The results of this study indicated that several well-known risk factors for delinquency also predicted therapy attrition. Understanding predictors of attrition from a community-based anger management group intervention can help clinicians screen court-involved adolescents least likely to benefit from this intervention. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution due in part to the small sample size.

<p> Although approximately 60%-80% of detained adolescents have a psychiatric disorder, little is known about their utilization of mental health and substance-related treatment services upon release from detention. Given that treatment can potentially reduce symptomology and recidivism, the study examined detained adolescents&rsquo; post-detention treatment utilization and longitudinal patterns of use. Data were abstracted from the electronic juvenile justice records and medical records of 9664 detained adolescents (62.7% male; 34.8% White, 65.2% Black; 72.6% with disorder) with Medicaid coverage held in a Midwestern detention center at some time during 1998-2011. A series of statistical tests (e.g., chi-square, ANOVA, logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, Cox regression) were conducted to identify group differences in treatment utilization during the 14-year follow-up period. Following detention release, approximately 66.2% of adolescents were re-arrested and 54.9% were re-detained or incarcerated. Treatment utilization within two years post-detention was 36.7%; 31.4% obtained mental health treatment, 10.4% obtained substance-related treatment, 36.0% obtained outpatient treatment, and 6.2% obtained non-outpatient treatment. Among treatment users, 22.5% dropped out of treatment within 1-3 sessions and 40.6% experienced gaps (>45 days) between treatment services. Treatment utilization was significantly higher among males, White (vs. Black) adolescents, younger adolescents, violent (vs. non-violent) offenders, recidivists (vs. non-recidivists), and adolescents with mental disorders (vs. substance-related disorders). Variables associated with increased likelihood of post-detention treatment included: male gender, psychiatric disorder(s), pre-detention arrest(s), charge severity, violent offender, incarceration, and pre-detention treatment; age and Black race were associated with decreased likelihood of treatment. As one of the only longitudinal studies to examine treatment utilization among detained adolescents upon community reentry, findings suggest limited service utilization, as well as treatment gaps and disparities. Future research should focus on the treatment needs of detained adolescents, factors associated with disparities, and programs/policies to ensure consistent identification, referral, and connection to care for detained adolescents.</p>

<p> On any given day, one in 28 children loses a parent to incarceration, creating a higher risk for mental health concerns and antisocial and criminal behavior. This study examined negative outcomes, such as antisocial behavior and criminal behavior, of children who have experienced a parent&rsquo;s incarceration. A closer look was taken at the effects of mix timing incarceration, in and out of prison, on children. There was also an analysis on the influence of intergenerational criminal behavior on a child&rsquo;s wellbeing and long-term outcome. The results of this study indicated that a parent incarcerated with mix timing during their children&rsquo;s childhood and adolescence leads to a higher risk of mental health concerns in the minors. Depression was significantly higher in children with a history of parent imprisonment (<i>M</i> 54.6, <i>SD</i> 14.8) in comparison to children with a stable household (<i>M</i> 46.3, <i>SD</i> 9.6). All effect sizes showed that parental imprisonment with mix timing was associated with higher rates of child mental health concerns. Furthermore, findings showed that parental imprisonment was associated with higher rates of antisocial or criminal behavior among children. Children with imprisoned mothers reported being convicted for criminal activity at more than double the rate of the control group. Meanwhile, a significantly higher proportion of inmates had a history of paternal imprisonment (39%) than the control group (7%). As for aggressive and antisocial behavior, the odds ratio for children with parental imprisonment was 2.2 (<i> CI</i>= 1.6-3.0) for boys and 1.7 (<i>CI</i>= 1.3-2.4) for girls. The results of the study provide insight and awareness of the increasing numbers of children falling into a pattern of intergenerational incarceration, as well as mental health concerns and antisocial or criminal behavior. This dissertation provides evidence of the need for resources, awareness, and further prevention.</p><p>

The purpose of this study was to understand how offender age impacted residential substance abuse treatment (RSAT) program success in reducing rates of recidivism for offenders exiting the judicial system. Despite passing legislation in the 1980s and 1990s, which increased the penalties for certain crimes, offender recidivism remains high, with no apparent drop in the number of incarcerations and re-incarcerations, resulting in high costs and threats to the safety and quality of life experienced within communities. Social learning theory, behavioral decision theory, and biologically based theories of behavior were the theoretical foundations. Archival data collected from a RSAT grant program at between January 1, 1999 and June 6, 2001 were examined. Data related to participant scores on the Level of Service Inventory Revised (LSI-R), acquired prior to program placement and upon program completion, were compared with the number of incarcerations before and after program completion; charges for convictions already decided and/or pending convictions, age at admission(s) and age at the time of the offender's first offense, and types of offenses (domestic or sexual) committed were explored in a factor analysis. Negative correlations identified included: sex offenders and their age at admission and between LSI-R scores and completing the RSAT program. Positive correlations identified included: new convictions and completing the RSAT program, age at admission to program and age of first offense, and date of first offense and sex offender variables. Implications for positive social change include reduced rates of recidivism among offenders with substance abuse problems.