Do the same risk factors predict recidivism in both male and female youth? The current research obtained historical data about a sample of 936 young people who received a Youth Justice (YJ) Intake to Child, Youth and Family (CYF) during 2002. Statistical analyses were performed to develop separate models to predict recidivism in males and females. The risk factors that predicted recidivism for males and females were significantly different. These models were then tested against the opposite gender’s data to see whether there was a significant reduction in predictive validity. Only when the female model was applied to the male data was there a significant reduction in predictive validity.

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

Many offenders participate in multiple treatment programs while incarcerated. Despite this, few studies have investigated the possibility of interactions between programs, and instead the correctional discourse has focused on assessing programs individually. However, it is likely that combinations of programs work together to affect offenders’ post-release performance in ways that cannot be predicted by the sum of their main effects alone. The current study uses logistic regression analysis to investigate the presence of interaction effects between custodial treatment programs in Canadian federal prison. It uses a population sample of 17,727 male offenders admitted to prison between January 1st, 2002 and December 31st, 2006, and released into the community on Day Parole or Statutory Release on or before December 31st, 2009. Findings of the study suggest that certain program combinations reduce the odds of post-release recidivism more than others, but effective programming differs depending on whether an offender has substance abuse needs. Furthermore, the number of successfully completed correctional programs raises an offender’s odds of post-release success, regardless of the content of the program.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2004. / Adviser: Lana Stermac.

Thesis (M.A.)--Duquesne University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 40-46).

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-104). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

In this thesis I investigate the effectiveness of the RealVictory Program, a juvenile aftercare program combined with a phone coach system, in the state of Utah. Using treatment and control groups, I examine both time to re-arrest as well as number of post-participation arrests to determine how effectively RealVictory reduces recidivism among juvenile participants released from secure care, in foster homes, or while on probation. I found the treatment group was at a 21.7 percent higher risk of being rearrested, but this result was not statistically significant. These results suggest that the program as a whole is not effective at reducing recidivism.

No description available.

No description available.

There is considerable responsibility on the clinician to identify sex offenders who may potentially commit more serious sexually violent behaviour and an increased demand for evidence based risk assessments (Macpherson, 1997; Thomas-Peter and Warren, 1998). Offenders who commit non-contact sexual crimes are traditionally classified as harmless despite the significant minority who escalate in offence severity towards more violent sexual offending. Forty convicted male sex offenders were classified as non-contact or contact sexual recidivists. Non-contact recidivists had a history of non-contact sexual offending on two or more occasions. Contact recidivists had a history of noncontact offending and had recidivated with a contact sexual offence. Groups were compared on the Sexual Violence Risk-20 (SVR-20: Boer et al. 1997) and the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL: SV: Hart et al. 1995). Psychosexual variables, criminal history and clinical risk factors were also coded using a multi-variable assessment model. A retrospective-prospective comparison successfully used by Quinsey et al. (1995) was performed between non-contact and contact recidivist groups. Factors that discriminated between non-contact recidivists and contact recidivists were primarily historical in nature, reflecting fixed or relatively stable characteristics. Significant differences between non-contact recidivists and contact recidivists were observed on total PCL: SV scores and psychosocial factors of the SVR-20 including sexual deviation, a history of childhood victimisation and past nonviolent offences. Contact recidivists were significantly younger than non-contact recidivists at first non-sexual offence and were significantly more likely to have a history of homosexual offending. A high level of interrater reliability on the SVR-20 and PCL: SV was observed. Suggested revisions to several iten1s of the SVR-20 and methodological considerations are reported. The research demonstrates that a progressive pattern of sexual offending from noncontact sexual offending to contact sexual offending is reliably associated with a combination of risk factors. The study offers the potential for early detection of a more serious escalation in sexual offending to allow for the possibility of supervision and clinical risk management.