abstract: Juvenile offenders suffer from substance use disorders at higher rates than adolescents in the general public. Substance use disorders also predict an increased risk for re-offending. Therefore, it is important that these juveniles, in particular, receive the appropriate substance use disorder treatment. The present study used logistic regression to test whether race/ethnicity would moderate the match between substance use disorder diagnosis and the receipt of a substance use disorder related service in a sample of male, serious juvenile offenders. Results showed that among those with a substance use disorder diagnosis, there were no race/ethnicity differences in the receipt of the appropriate service. However, among those without a substance use disorder diagnosis, non-Hispanic Caucasians were more likely to receive substance use service than were Hispanics or African-Americans. Post-hoc analyses revealed that when using a broader definition of substance use problems, significant differences by race/ethnicity in the prediction of service receipt were only observed at low levels of substance use problems. These findings shed light on how race/ethnicity may play a role in the recommendation of substance use disorder services in the juvenile justice system. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Psychology 2013

Runaway youth often face a multitude of negative experiences during their childhood, which often leads to trajectories of psychological disorder/distress, victimization, and offending. This propensity for negative life trajectories may be exacerbated by repetitive runaway behavior. Additionally, these negatives experiences may be further shaped by the gender of the youth, thus creating distinct gendered pathways to chronic runaway behavior, victimization, and offending. This study utilized a sample of youth runaways in the state of Florida (N=295) to build upon the classification/typology research on juvenile runaways by assessing the presence of latent groups of youth based on runaway frequency. In addition, this study utilized classical and modern criminology theories to influence the assessment of the relationship between known runaway risk factors and chronic runaway status. Group-based trajectory modeling was performed and two distinct groups of youth runaways were identified for both full and gender-exclusive models. Chronic runaway analyses indicated both unique and similar gender-based relationships between chronic runaway status and relevant risk factors, suggesting partial support for a gender specific theoretical perspective. Results provide additional insight into youth runaway behavior while also suggesting the need for further exploration of chronic runaway status within the youth runaway population.

No description available.

A vocational horticulture curriculum was assessed for its effectiveness in strengthening social bonds and changing attitudes about personal success and job preparedness in a group of juvenile offenders. The curriculum focused on vocational training and entry-level job skills in horticulture and landscaping and prepared the youth for internship positions in grounds maintenance. Pre/post-tests based on Hirsch=s tests of social bond for juvenile delinquents were developed to address attitudes toward school, teachers, peers, opinions on personal success, and environmental attitudes. A separate pre/post test dealt with careers and aspirations. Results from these tests were compared to tests administered at a comparable program in an urban setting. Behavioral records for one semester before and the semester during the horticulture curriculum were compared. Daily journals maintained by service-learning student mentors were analyzed for observational themes, as were teachers' observations and project follow-up interviews. Success of the program was based on the students' successful completion of the program, students' desire and ability to be hired for summer internships and/or employment in horticultural related jobs. Due to the limited size of the study group (6), this research project intends only to provide a profile of several youths' response to vocational horticultural training with regard to the objectives stated above. It is exploratory in nature and offers ideas for future larger scale research and confirms some existing trends in research with juvenile offenders. / Master of Science

No description available.

Because there has been a paucity of research on the educational needs of females with academic, behavioral, and emotional problems involved with the juvenile justice system, this study has been an attempt to classify and compare specific characteristics of this population. In particular, it examined their demographics, disability prevalence rates, along with academic, behavioral, and emotional functioning levels, in order to further understand their relationship to the resocialization or recidivism of the different groups of female juveniles incarcerated in the state of Texas, and contribute to the research for further developing successful prevention and intervention programs. Various demographic factors of the female juveniles in this study were examined: (a) offender type, (b) county of commitment, (c) race/ethnicity, (d) age at first referral, and (e) English language proficiency. Prevalence rates of special education disabilities were determined. Academic functioning was measured by (a) IQ; (b) last school grade completed; (c) Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) reading gain score; and (d) TABE math gain score. Behavioral functioning was indicated through (a) offense history, (b) documented behavior incidents, and (c) total risk score. Emotional functioning included DSM-IV diagnoses and treatment needs. Due to the design of the research being a descriptive exploration, the findings produced this compilation of attributes. The population of study typically reached an education level of 8th grade or less before becoming incarcerated. Their IQ is usually in the range of 80 to 90 points, with their reading and math achievement levels lagging about five years behind those of their age group. Their gains in reading and math are usually two to three levels per year. The female juveniles averaged 10 documented behavior incidents during their periods of incarceration. Their Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores at intake showed they had moderate mental health symptoms and/or moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning. For this study population, there were almost twice as many recidivists as first-time offenders, and the findings showed that their characteristics, even those of different disability groups, were much more alike than different.

The present study used the Psychoanalytic Rorschach Profile (PRP) to assess differences in personality organization in violent and nonviolent juvenile offenders.

The construct of psychopathy holds promise as a discriminating variable in the classification and explanation of childhood antisocial behavior. The new generation of psychopathy measures, designed to measure this construct in adolescent populations, must meet acceptable standards of reliability and validity prior to the clinical application of the construct with adolescent offenders. The purpose of this study is to examine the construct and predictive validity of adolescent psychopathy as measured by the PCL:YV, PSD, SALE, and SRP-II. Data from two samples of detained adolescent offenders (short-term and long-term detention) are utilized to investigate construct validity via MTMM. In addition, external validity indices including institutional violations (fighting, seclusions, and treatment refusals) and community supervision (probation contacts, drug testing, and re-arrests) are operationalized and measured in order to examine the predictive validity of adolescent psychopathy. Results of construct validity offer modest support for the two-factor model of psychopathy. For external validity, Factor 2 accounted for greater variance in the prediction of institutional infractions and subsequent placements in a secure facility; however, its overall predictive validity was low. The results suggest that the current measures assess psychopathic traits and behaviors which may be stable in adults but are likely to be normative and transient in many adolescents.

Clinical research suggests that adolescent offenders often do not view their criminal behaviors as problematic and, therefore, are not motivated for treatment. Although customarily defined as a static characteristic, the transtheoretical model (TTM) proposes treatment amenability is dynamic and can be achieved through tailored interventions that motivate individuals for treatment. The current study examines the predictive validity of TTM measures for adolescent offenders at a maximum security correctional facility. In particular, the Stages of Change Scale (SOCS) and Decisional Balance for Adolescent Offenders (DBS-AO) were compared with a more traditional assessment tool utilized in evaluating treatment amenability of juvenile offenders (i.e., Risk-Sophistication-Treatment Inventory; RSTI). One hundred adolescent offenders from the Gainesville State School completed two waves of data collection with a 3-month time interval. Information was collected on offenders' treatment progress between waves. Consistent with TTM research, predictors of treatment progress included low scores on the Cons scale on the DBS-AO and on the Precontemplation scale on the SOCS. Participants in the most advanced levels of treatment also scored high on the Sophistication-Maturity scale on the RSTI and the Impression Management scale on the Paulhus Deception Scale.

A maioria dos jovens emite alguns comportamentos antissociais; uma minoria, porém, irá manifestar tais procedimentos de modo mais frequente, o que pode representar um risco à persistência e ao agravamento dos mesmos, ao longo do tempo. Dentre os comportamentos antissociais encontram-se as condutas delituosas e o uso de sustâncias. Estudos apontam que o uso de substâncias em meio aos adolescentes infratores é maior do que na população em geral de adolescentes e acontece de forma mais preocupante. O presente estudo, ao utilizar dados de uma amostra de 120 adolescentes em conflito com a lei, objetivou caracterizar os comportamentos delituosos bem como os de uso de substâncias, buscando verificar as associações existentes entre eles. Os adolescentes foram recrutados no contexto da custódia inicial, após a elaboração do Boletim de Ocorrência, e convidados a participar do estudo. Seus pais/responsáveis foram contatados e solicitados a autorizarem a participação dos filhos na pesquisa, seguindo as normativas éticas. Para a coleta de dados, foram empregados: Roteiro de Entrevista Sociodemográfica; a Entrevista Estruturada de Delinquência Autorrevelada; DUSI-R (Drug Use Screening Inventory). Análises descritivas e, posteriormente, Análises de Clusters foram realizadas. Para observar as diferenças internas e externas estatisticamente significativas entre os subgrupos, utilizaram-se os testes estatísticos apropriados. Resultados obtidos indicaram que os adolescentes revelaram ter cometido outros delitos além daquele pelo qual estavam custodiados, a maioria não violentos. Com relação às substâncias psicoativas, 84% dos adolescentes referiram ter feito uso e 70%, uso no último mês. Em relação aos que referiram uso das mesmas, as drogas mais usadas na vida e no mês foram a maconha e o álcool. Destaca-se que a maioria dos jovens que referiu uso de substância no último mês, apresentou uso bastante frequente de maconha (mais de 20 vezes). O padrão do uso de substâncias dos adolescentes, em termos médios, pode ser descrito do seguinte modo: início do uso aos 12 anos de idade e utilização simultânea de mais de uma substância distinta. A frequência de uso no último mês entre estes foi alta, praticamente, diário. Observou-se, contudo, que a maioria dos adolescentes apresentou padrão de uso considerado não problemático (abstinente e uso experimental) e que as dificuldades associadas ao uso se concentraram na relação com os pares e na escola. As análises de clusters em termos de engajamento infracional, levando em conta os parâmetros idade de cometimento do primeiro delito, número de delitos diferentes cometidos e frequência total dos cometidos na vida, concorreram para o estabelecimento de três agrupamentos. Estes se diferenciaram no tocante aos padrões de uso de substâncias, denotando-se relação positiva entre maior engajamento infracional e padrão de uso mais problemático. Os agrupamentos formados também se diferenciaram externamente em função dos constructos mensurados pelo DUSI-R, sendo que em oito dos dez constructos investigados pelo instrumento, observaram-se diferenças com significância estatística. Diferentes relações droga-crime foram notadas; não é possível estabelecer com exatidão a direção de tais relações. De todo modo, notou-se no presente trabalho as diferenças em meio aos infratores nas duas variáveis focadas, o que impõem reflexões sobre a necessidade de intervenções especializadas e diferenciadas. / Most young emits some antisocial behaviors; a minority, however, will manifest these behavior often, which may pose a risk to the persistence and aggravation of these, over time. Among the antisocial behaviors are criminal and use of substances behaviors. Studies show that substance use among the young offenders is higher than in the general population of adolescents and happens more worryingly. The purpose of this study was characterizing the offending behavior and the substance use, using data from a sample of 120 juvenile offenders. The adolescents were recruited in the context of initial custody, after the police report. They were invited to participate and their parents/guardians were contacted and asked to authorize their participation in the research, following the ethical standards. To collect data, we used: Sociodemographic Interview; Self-Report Delinquency Interview; DUSI-R (Drug Use Screening Inventory). Descriptive analyzes and subsequently Clusters tests were performed. To observe the internal and external statistical differences between subgroups, we used appropriate tests. Results revealed that teenagers have committed other offenses beyond that for which they were held in custody, most nonviolent. With regard to psychoactive substances, 84% reported having used and 70% use in the last month. Cannabis and alcohol was the substances with a higher prevalence of lifetime use and use in the month. The most adolescents who reported substance use in the past month, has quite frequent use of cannabis (more than 20 times). The pattern of substance use on average was: initial use to 12 years of age and simultaneous use of more than one distinct substance. The frequency use in the last month among these was substantially high, with everyday use. However, most adolescents have usage pattern considered abstinent and experimental and the major problems related to substance use was the relationship with peers and school. The criminal engagement, taking into account the age of initiation of offenses, number of different offenses committed and overall frequency of crimes committed in life, contributed to the establishment of three clusters. The clusters was significantly diferentes in the substance use patterns, indicating a positive relationship between greater infraction engagement and standard more problematic use. The clusters also differed externally in the marjority of the DUSI-R constructs - eight of the ten constructs investigated by the instrument showed statistical differences. Different drug-crime relationships were noted; however, we can not be established with accuracy the direction of these relationship. Anyway, it was noted in this study the differences among the offenders in the two focused variables, which require some reflection on the need for for specialized and differentiated interventions.