Thesis (M.S.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-43).

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.(AppSocRes))--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-155). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

No description available.

The Aggression Replacement Training Program (ART) is an approach to reduce aggression in Young Offenders. This program was implemented with a sample of youths on probation and living in the community (N = 21). The goal was to evaluate the efficacy of the program, and to measure changes in aggression, skill acquisition and recidivism rates. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was used. The Aggression Questionnaire and Skillstreaming Checklist were the main source of data and results were compared pre- and posttest. Recidivism rates were determined six months after the start of the program. An improvement in aggression scores was found in the ART sample, but this was not statistically significant. Only 5.8% of the total sample that had recidivated, committed an aggressive crime. Recommendations are made to maximize the efficacy of the ART program for the future.

Although the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument – Second Version (MAYSI-2) has been widely accepted as a short mental health screener in the juvenile justice system, its utility in predicting juvenile recidivism has not yet been explored. This study comprised of 424 subjects who have been detained at Allen County Juvenile Justice Center (ACJC) for criminal charges. Participant's MAYSI-2 total scores without the Alcohol/Drug Use subscale and Alcohol/Drug Use subscale scores were used to assess their utility in predicting juvenile recidivism. A correlational analysis using urinalysis results and Alcohol/Drug Use subscale scores suggested Alcohol/Drug Use subscale is an efficacious measure for assessing substance use among juvenile offenders. A multiple hierarchical regression and ROC analyses were conducted. Findings indicated that the MAYSI-2 total score and Alcohol/Drug Use subscale scores were not adequate predictors of recidivism. However, in exploratory analysis the Anger-Irritability subscale was found to be a significant predictor of juvenile recidivism. / Department of Psychological Science

This thesis investigated and statistically analyzed the responses of delinquent and non-delinquent female adolescent subjects to J. B. Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. Internal control refers to the perception of positive and/or negative events as being a consequence of one's own actions and under personal control. External control refers to the perception of positive and/or negative events as being unrelated to one's own behaviors and beyond personal control.Delinquent subjects were obtained through a juvenile court. Non-delinquent subjects were obtained from schools and social agencies. Variables of age, race, socio-economic level and number of parents in the home were controlled.Delinquent females were found to be significantly more external than the non-delinquent females. Race was not found to be significant for the total sample, but the black non-delinquent females scored significantly more external than did the white non-delinquent females.