Serious juvenile offenders who have experienced emerging adulthood: Substance use and recidivism. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Denney, Andrew S.; Connor, David Patrick
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 67(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Juvenile offenders -- Recidivism -- Substance use -- Life course -- Emerging adulthood; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Abstract: Using data from the California Youth Authority, this article examines whether or not specific substance use differentially predicts recidivism for individual offense-type among a group of serious juvenile offenders who have experienced emerging adulthood . The results of the logistic regression analysis indicate that users of specific substances have a higher overall likelihood of receipt of a subsequent arrest for different offense-types when compared to other substances. Specifically, among the 524 serious juvenile offenders analyzed, one demographic, one social bond, and two substance use measures were significant indicators of an offender being arrested during the seven-year follow-up period. The social bond measure of full-time employment and substance use measure of using mind-altering drugs were significant indicators of receipt of an arrest for a non-violent offense, while being non-white and reported use of uppers/downers were significant predictors of arrest(s) for violent and both non-violent and violent offenses. Policy implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. Highlights: Demographic, social bond, and substance-use measures are predictors for recidivism. A full-time job and mind-altering drugs were predictors of nonviolent recidivism. Non-white race and upper/downer drug-use were predictors of violent recidivism. Non-white race and upper/downer drug-use were predictors for both recidivism forms. Non-white serious juvenile offenders may have the lowest optimism for their future.