Predictors of Recidivism among Delinquent Youth: Interrelations among Ethnicity, Gender, Age, Mental Health Problems, and Posttraumatic Stress

Abstract

This study investigated the interrelations among mental health problems, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), age, ethnicity, gender, and recidivism over a three-year period in a sample of 417 male and 170 female juvenile offenders. At the time of first admission to a juvenile detention center, boys reported higher alcohol/drug use, whereas girls reported greater anger/irritability. Caucasian offenders evidenced higher rates of alcohol/drug use and somatic complaints than African American offenders. Younger age was related to higher levels of anger/irritability and depression/anxiety, although older adolescents with PTSD reported the highest levels of alcohol/drug use, anger/irritability, somatic complaints, and depression/anxiety. Across multiple admissions to detention, alcohol/drug use increased for all youth, whereas somatic complaints decreased for boys only. Younger offenders were more likely to recidivate than older offenders; however, girls and younger African American youth with PTSD were more likely to reoffend than were their peers.

Investigating the Construct of Trauma‐Related Acquired Callousness Among Delinquent Youth: Differences in Emotion Processing

“…Finally, the current study has a number of clinical implications. High‐CU youth are thought to respond poorly to treatment (Kruh, Frick, & Clements, ) and thus they may not be referred to psychological interventions; on the other hand, CU is associated with the most severe offenses and untreated PTSD has been demonstrated to increase the risk of recidivism (Becker, Kerig, Lim, & Ezechukwu, ). Therefore, the risks associated with failing to identify youth with acquired‐CU traits—and failing to refer them for trauma‐informed treatment—are high.…”

Troubled or Traumatized Youth? The Relations Between Psychopathy, Violence Exposure, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Antisocial Behavior Among Juvenile Offenders

“…Among youth offenders, early life exposure to violence and victimization have been linked to subsequent antisocial behavior, such as chronic weapon carrying (Vaughn, Howard, & Harper-Chang, 2006), generalized criminal behavior (Becker, Kerig, Lim, & Ezechukwu, 2014; Cottle, Lee, & Heilbrun, 2001; Mulder, Brand, Bullens, & Van Marle, 2010; Vaughn, Freedenthal, Jenson, & Howard, 2007), and institutional misconduct (DeLisi et al, 2009). Becker and Kerig (2011) also found posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be associated with the frequency and severity of antisocial behavior.…”

Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors for Recidivism in Spanish Youth Offenders

“…Moreover, the reoffending rate ranged between 5 and 25%, depending on the type of crime (Capdevila et al, 2005;Iborra, Rodríguez, Serrano & Martínez, 2011). In this context, intervention in youth recidivism becomes critical, that is, to help preventing them from continuing their criminal career into adulthood, on a life-course-persistent trajectory (Moffit, 2006).Recidivism is not only a concern because of the impact on the public, but because of the impact on the quality of life of recidivating juveniles: increasing levels of alcohol/drug use (Becker, Kerig, Lim & Ezechukwu, 2012), personal discomfort and conflict (Gendreau, Little & Goggin, 1996), psychopathy (Salekin, 2008) and even high mortality risk (Coffey, Lovett, Cini, Patton, Wolfe & Moran, 2004).The concept of risk factors, and consequently protective factors, has become very important. A risk factor for offending is a variable that predicts a high probability of later offending (Farrington, Loeber & Ttofi, 2012;Ribeaud & Eisner, 2010).…”

“…Recidivism is not only a concern because of the impact on the public, but because of the impact on the quality of life of recidivating juveniles: increasing levels of alcohol/drug use (Becker, Kerig, Lim & Ezechukwu, 2012), personal discomfort and conflict (Gendreau, Little & Goggin, 1996), psychopathy (Salekin, 2008) and even high mortality risk (Coffey, Lovett, Cini, Patton, Wolfe & Moran, 2004).…”