The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of juvenile offender assessments. Data from 104 juvenile offender assessments were analyzed and followed up with placement, subsequent offending, and outcome data from the juvenile and adult systems. Constructs consistently assessed included intellectual functioning, academic achievement, and personality functioning; however, under-diagnosis of intellectual deficits, learning disabilities, and personality disorders was found. Results indicated the assessment of family functioning, substance use, and social functioning should be included in comprehensive assessments, as they may result in alternative placement and treatment options of benefit to the juvenile offender. A juvenile offender typology proposed by DiCataldo and Grisso (1995) was successfully utilized and proved predictive of recidivism, future harm to others, and outcome.

In Texas, determinate sentencing allows extremely serious and violent delinquents one more chance to change their ways by releasing them to the streets instead of being transferred to prison. This research study examined the recidivism outcomes of 416 serious and violent juvenile offenders previously exposed to rehabilitative treatment in the renowned Capital and Serious Violent Offender Treatment Program provided by the Texas Youth Commission. Further, this research study looked to a group of 1,261 determinately sentenced offenders who did not participate in Capital and Serious Violent Offender Treatment Program but were released from Texas Youth Commission as well. Both groups of juveniles were followed for three years following their release from institutionalization. This analysis revealed that 50% of both groups were rearrested at least once during the follow-up period for any offense. Of the Capital and Serious Violent Offender Program participants, 81% were rearrested for at least one new felony offense. Of those non-participants, 78% were rearrested for at least one new felony offense. The factors that served to distinguish both groups included African-American race and a number of delinquent history measures. This study concludes with a discussion of policy implications and suggestions for future research.

The purpose of this study is to try to determine some of the leading causes of juvenile delinquency in Stephens County so as to recommend methods of prevention and treatment.

The transtheoretical model has a substantial history of measuring the change process. Hemphill and Howell validated the Stages of Change Scale (SOCS) on adolescent offenders. The current study expands their research by developing an additional component of the TTM, the Decisional Balance Scale for Adolescent Offenders (DBS-AO). This measure assesses movement through the stages of change and provides insight into mechanisms through which adolescent offenders attempt to change their criminal behaviors. Two hundred thirty-nine adolescent offenders at the Gainesville State School completed the SOCS, DBS-AO, Paulhus Deception Scales (PDS), and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). The study found the DBS-AO is psychometrically sound, demonstrates excellent reliability and has an underlying three-factor solution: Cons, Pros-Self, and Pros-Others. Offenders in the early stages of change scored significantly higher on the Cons scale. Offenders actively changing their behavior scored significantly higher on the Pro-Self and Pros-Other scales.

Predictors of institutional adjustment for juvenile offenders were examined using a sample of 120 males in a detention facility. While demographic information failed to differentiate between well and poorly adjusted juveniles, psychological measures appeared to be more effective. Several MMPI-A clinical scales were useful predictors with the overall elevation in clinical scales being one of the strongest predictors. In addition, the Psychopathy Checklist - Clinical Version (PCL-CV) was a strong predictor of adjustment. Major ethnic differences occurred in the prediction of adjustment, with the MMPI-A and PCL-CV scales predicting infraction rates for the African American group but not Anglo American or Hispanic American groups.

No description available.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences. / Department of Sociology

盧瑞忠. / 論文(哲學碩士) -- 香港中文大學硏究院社會工作學部, 1998. / 參考文獻: leaves 203-216. / 中英文摘要. / Lu Ruizhong. / Chapter 第一章： --- 序言 --- p.1 / Chapter 第二章： --- 靑少年犯罪理論和硏究結果 --- p.8 / Chapter 第三章： --- 本硏究各槪念的文獻探討 --- p.39 / Chapter 第四章： --- 研究問題及硏究假設 --- p.78 / Chapter 第五章： --- 研究方法 --- p.89 / Chapter 第六章： --- 調查結果 --- p.94 / Chapter 第七章： --- 討論 --- p.151 / Chapter 第八章： --- 總結及建議 --- p.187 / 參考文獻 --- p.203 / 附錄一：給家長的信 / 附錄二 ：《子女問卷》 / 附錄三：《父母問卷》

Thesis (LLM) -- University of Limpopo, 2008 / The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996 has brought about an inspiration for the development of our legal system. Youthful offenders like any other person in South Africa have fundamental rights. Section 28 provides for the rights of children in general and section 28(2) makes provisions for the supremacy of children’s rights in every field of the law. With regard to child offenders charged with serious crimes, courts and all those dealing with them need to take their basic rights into account. Courts should observe the rules and procedures of fair trial in order to protect and promote the individual or group of child offender’s rights. Courts are enjoined to act dynamically to obtain full particulars of the child offender’s personality and personal circumstances, and to engage the services of the probation officers or correctional service officials. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996, the Child Care Act 74 of 1983 and 38 of 2005, Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, etc regulate and guide courts in dealing with children who fall foul of the law. Firstly, I am indebted to Mrs. A.T Thoka, and Prof. Scheepers my supervisors who unselfishly assisted and encouraged me through the maze I had to go through this dissertation. I would also like to express my gratitude to the late Mrs Motimele Mapula Rebecca, my wife Ramadimetja Teresiah, my daughter Isabel Madithotsana Mokonyama and my two sons Mokitlelo and Matsimela to whom this short dissertation is dedicated for their kindness in allowing me to use their quality time for my personal advancement. Last, but not least, my thanks are extended to Ms Makgatho Jerminah for having typed and compiled this dissertation.

Abstract not available