Recidivism among high risk youths: a 2 1/2-year follow-up of a cohort of juvenile detainees.
We report some results from a longitudinal study of juvenile detainees. Analyses were directed toward determining whether the youths' alcohol or other drug use and their emotional/psychological problems at entry into the detention center predicted subsequent arrests for new offenses during the 24 and 30 months following their initial interviews. Statistically significant relationships were found between the youths' demographic characteristics (age, race, gender), referral history, reason for placement in the detention center, cocaine use (as measured by urinalysis), and recidivism. The magnitude of these relationships increased with the length of the follow-up period.
Dembo
R
R
Department of Criminology, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620.
Williams
L
L
Schmeidler
J
J
Getreu
A
A
Berry
E
E
Genung
L
L
Wish
E D
ED
Christensen
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003042:Cocaine; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011330:Prisons; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003042:Cocaine