Adverse childhood experiences can lead to a number of harmful outcomes throughout an individual’s life, ranging from medical problems to criminal behavior. These traumatic experiences, comprised of different forms of maltreatment and dysfunctional household environments, can affect the development of a child in a variety of different ways. The multitude of developmental changes can produce compounding harmful effects on the child’s life and lead to acutely maladaptive outcomes. Under the perspective of developmental psychopathology, the ever-changing biological, psychological, and social dynamics of children who experience trauma can contribute to deficiencies in all aspects of their subsequent development. Each of these developmental changes can lead to problem behaviors during adolescence and further progress the youth down a path toward both externalized and internalized violent behavior. In this study of youth who came in contact with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the consequences of childhood trauma in the development of juvenile delinquents are examined. This data allowed for the calculation of each child’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score (Felitti et al., 1998). Using a generalized structural equation model, the effects of ACE scores are estimated on several aspects of each child’s personality development, adolescent problem behaviors, and violent outcomes. Specifically, the model evaluates both the direct and indirect effects of the culmination of adverse childhood experiences on the initiation of externalized violence (serious, violent, chronic delinquency) and internalized violence (suicidal behavior), as mediated through the development of personality characteristics (such as aggression and impulsivity) and adolescent problem behaviors (such as the imitation of deviant peers, school failure and dropout, substance abuse problems, and symptoms of mental illness). This study aims to contribute to the formation of a more complete understanding of the role of childhood trauma in the development of these two types of violent behaviors to improve our assessment and treatment of children who suffer from early-life trauma.

This study examined the impact of four categories of variables (demographics, neighborhood context variables, contact with the police, and vicarious influence variables) on juvenile perceptions of the police and police services. Data analyzed in this study were collected as part of a larger research evaluation that examined the impact of law enforcement efforts in relation to violent crime. Students from one middle school were surveyed. Statistical analysis consisted of a series of One-Way ANOVA tests and several ordinary least squares regression (OLS) models. The study found significant results for both dependent variables within all four categories of independent variables. Policy implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Juvenile liability for the administrative delicts Abstract In my thesis, I deal with juvenile liability for the administrative delicts. The goal of my thesis is to analyze and to evaluate the current administrative delicts legislation and to propose certain measures I would personally take regarding these issues. In the first part, I define some key terms for my thesis, which are liability, administrative delict, age and juveniles. The second part is dedicated to the principles of imposing punishments upon juveniles. The purpose of imposing administrative punishments upon juveniles is so that they would live proper life and so that they would not repeat illegal acts. While imposing punishments upon juveniles, the administrative body must consider many factors, the main goal is so that the punishment would fulfill its educational purpose and at the same time so that it would not disturb juvenile's further development. In the third part, I introduce what differences regarding punishments upon juvenile transgressors are comprised in the current legislation. I am also concerned with the administrative procedures specifics leading to the imposition of punishments upon a juvenile transgressor in this part. In the fourth part, I deal with the specifics of a hearing of an administrative delict with a juvenile,...

Tesis

The primary purpose of this study was to examine and compare physically and sexually violent juvenile offenders (PVJOs and SVJOs) to determine whether specific factors in their abuse histories, if present, tend to be associated with-the type of violent offense pattern they exhibit. The Youth Experiences and Behaviors Structured Interview (YEBSI)--an instrument which assesses for primary (victimization), secondary (witnessing), and perpetrated abuse of an emotional, physical, and sexual nature, by and/or toward family members, acquaintances, strangers, and animals--was developed by the primary researcher for use in this study. Thirty-six PVJOs and 30 SVJOs were interviewed. Results indicated that the YEBSI demonstrated high levels of internal consistency reliability and a very high level of interrater reliability. Various descriptive statistical, scale, and subscale correlations for the YEBSI were provided. Very high percentages of both groups reported experiencing and witnessing all types of abuse. In all cases, a similar or larger percentage of SVJOs reported histories of primary and secondary abuse. SVJOs reported more severe levels of emotional abuse, similar severity levels of physical abuse, and less extremely severe levels of sexual abuse than did PVJOs. Family members and acquaintances (as compared to strangers) tended to be far more frequently reported as perpetrators by respondents. Composite primary and secondary abuse scores were moderately correlated with abuse perpetration scores for SVJOs and strongly correlated with abuse perpetration scores for PVJOs. For emotional, family, acquaintance, and stranger abuse, reported primary-secondary abuse scores were found to be most highly correlated with abuse perpetration scores of the same nature (e.g., emotional abuse history-witness scores best correlated with physical abuse perpetration scores and family abuse history-witness scores best correlated with perpetration scores against family members) Finally, the classification variables correctly predicted 75% of those in the physically violent group and 67% of those in the sexually violent group, with an overall "hit" rate of 71%. Examination of the discriminant function-variable correlations in this study indicates that it was primarily the emotional, family-perpetrated, and sexual abuse subscales that defined the function. Theoretical interpretations and implications for these results are provided.

The ability of corals to build reefs can be attributed to their relationship with single-celled algae of the familySymbiodiniaceae.Through the process of photosynthesis, these algae can provide their coral hosts with over 90% of their daily energy requirements. Most coral species acquire multiple species of symbionts from the surrounding water during their larval stage or immediately after settling. However, over time, the coral will select a dominant symbiont speciesthat can depend on the local environment. Until this study, the size or age of the coral at which this transition from multiple Symbiodiniaceaespecies to one dominant species occurs has remained uncertain. Likewise, it was unclear whether the selection of Symbiodiniaceaespeciesis influenced by the environment. The environmental conditions and symbiont composition of one hundred and eighteen juvenile Siderastrea siderea were assessed across four sites in Broward County, Florida. Presuming newly settled corals acquire multiple symbionts and then select just one dominant species, it was determined that the transition from multiple symbiont speciesto one dominant species in Siderastrea sidereaoccurs in the single polyp stage, between the time of settlement and approximately 4 to 6 months of age. The results also suggest that the selection of these dominant symbiont speciesis influenced by the environment, and that juveniles commonly select the same species as adults inhabiting similar environmental conditions. The selection of symbionts homologous to adult corals combined with environmental influences may be an early indicator of acclimatization in Siderastrea siderea.

Ungdomsbrottslighet är ett aktuellt problem som finns i Sverige och framställs i media att den ökar, vilket inte stämmer då det finns rapporter och statistik på att det har skett en minskning. Statistik är en viktig del i brottspreventivt syfte eftersom den hjälper forskare få en bild av hur omfattande ungdomsbrottsligheten är, dess utveckling, omfattning, dess minskande och om det förekommer skillnader mellan de olika regionerna i Sverige. ”Detta var min vändpunkt” är en studie vars syfte är att granska varför ungdomar i kriminalitet slutar att begå brott och även undersöka vilka deras vändpunkt/er var utifrån teoretikerna Robert Sampson och John Laubs teori om vändpunkter. Frågeställningarna som uppsatsen behandlat är: vad fick vissa ungdomar att sluta begå brott, finns det vändpunkter för ungdomsbrottslingar samt om någon av dessa vändpunkter var relationer, miljöombyte eller sysselsättning.För att undersöka och besvara dessa frågor har en kvalitativ ansats använts. Tre stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med medlemmar från Unga Kris. Resultatet analyserades och diskuterades utifrån teorin om turning points samt tidigare forskning. Frågeställningarna besvarades och det informanterna uppgav har varit mest betydelsefullt för att avsluta en brottslig karriär är självinsikt, sysselsättning och relationer till nära och kära. Vändpunkter som har varit bidragande faktorer har varit sysselsättning, inre motivation, nära till förlust av närstående vilket ledde till en vilja att förändra sin levnadssituation. / Juvenile delinquency is a current problem that exists in the Swedish society which is portrayed as increasing, which is not true since there are reports and statistics that there is a decreasing level of juvenile delinquency .Statistics is an important part of crime prevention because it helps scientists understand the extent of juvenile delinquency, its development, its range, its increase and decrease and whether there are differences between the different regions in Sweden. But who are the young people that represent the statistic and why did they stop commit crime?This was my turning point is a study which aims to examine why young people involved in crime stop committing crimes and also examine their turning point/ s which is based on the theorists Robert Sampson and John Laubs theory of turning points .To examine and answer these questions, a qualitative approach was used. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of the Young Kris. The results were analyzed and discussed based on the theory of turning points and previous research. The informants stated that the meaningful factors that lead to the end of their criminal career were self-perception, occupation and relationships with loved ones. Turning points that have been contributing factors was inner motivation, imprisonment, and loss of relatives, which led to a desire to change their life situation.

Research in Latin America regarding interpersonal violence and adolescents is rare if not nonexistent. In a collaborative effort with the Costa Rican Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Women (INAMU), qualitative data were collected from three high schools and one after-school program from rural and urban locations of the Central Valley. The discussion groups/open-ended questionnaires were done with a total of 154 students ranging from ages 14 to 17 and grade levels 8th to 12th. Information was obtained concerning students' perceptions, definitions and opinions on issues relating to interpersonal violence and gender roles and rules. The results show that the students made distinctions between acceptable and unacceptable uses of violence, supporting the idea behind a dichotomy of deviant and non-deviant interpersonal violence behaviors. In addition, students also recognized the overarching and detrimental existence of the machismo culture in society, which, in their eyes, perpetuates interpersonal violence. They were also generally unaware of any help that existed for abused adults, adolescents or children. Results show that the machismo culture that affects the socialization of adolescents is well recognized among adolescents and perceived as a detriment to people through gender role expectations and the use and perpetuation of interpersonal violence.

Adolescents within the juvenile system suffer from a multitude of physical and mental health issues. Previous studies have linked incarceration to poor health in juveniles, but very few have been able to claim incarceration is the cause for the mental health issues found in incarcerated juveniles. Whether juveniles go into the system with pre-existing mental health disorders or not, still many factors are associated with the development of mental disorders while incarcerated. Based on what the field knows and does not know about the link between juvenile incarceration and mental health, the goal of this study was to determine if incarceration is directly associated with increases in depression and anxiety among incarcerated juveniles. To explore this issue further, I conducted a study that investigates the relationship using data from the Pathways to Desistance Study. The results of the study established a clear causal ordering between mental health and incarceration demonstrating that mental health appears to deteriorate during incarceration and improve after release. This study can aid in the reform of juvenile detention as mental health programs can be developed in order to assist incarcerated adolescents.

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