Academic Remediation/Achievement and other Factors Related to Recidivism Rates among Delinquent Youths

Abstract

Given the close association of academic achievement with delinquency and recidivism, further examination of the relationship between these variables is warranted. This study examined the records of 549 delinquent males committed to the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney, Nebraska (a state correctional facility), who received general equivalency diplomas (GEDs) while incarcerated and those whose academic achievement was assessed (Woodcock Johnson Psychoeducational Battery-Revised/Tests of Achievement [WJ-ACH] pretest and posttest scores [Woodcock & Johnson, 1989]) from 1990 through 1996. Findings were consistent with previous research showing that the age of the offender at first offense and first commitment differentiated recidivists from nonrecidivists. Additional discriminant factors included pretest WJ-ACH scores in reading, writing, math, and skills; improvement in academic achievement in writing and skills; and GED performance in science and math, location of residence, and ethnic origin.

Protective factors related to antisocial behavior trajectories

“…School adjustment in terms of academic achievement and classroom behavior has been documented as a strong mediator in the elementary years for avoiding delinquency in adolescence (Tremblay et al, 1992;Yoshikawa, 1994). Further, Katsiyannis and Archwamety (1999) found improvement in academic achievement to be a key protective factor for avoiding delinquency recidivism.…”

Juvenile offenders with and without disabilities: Risks and patterns of recidivism

“…In contrast, improvement in academic achievement during incarceration has resulted in reduced levels of recidivism (Drakeford, 2002;Katsiyannis & Archwamety, 1999). There is evidence that completion of a general equivalency diploma program is associated with longer survival times outside of prison, particularly for women (Brewster & Sharp, 2002).…”

Predictors of Offense Severity, Prosecution, Incarceration and Repeat Violations for Adolescent Male and Female Offenders

“…In fact, it has been estimated that 10 percent of juveniles commit over two thirds of juvenile crime (Steinberg, 2005). To date, recidivism studies have generally focused on youth being re-incarcerated (as opposed to re-offending without re-incarceration) and often with facility specific samples (Ashford & LeCroy, 1990;Katsiyannis & Archwamety, 1999;Katsiyannis, Zhang, Barrett, & Flaska, 2004). In the present analysis, the examination of an entire birth cohort that has been referred to a state juvenile justice system allows us to study delinquency outcomes for youth who were not incarcerated as well as those who were.…”