title: Is educational achievement a turning point for incarcerated delinquents across race and sex?
abstract: Research has linked the role of education to delinquency, but much of the focus has been on general population samples and with little attention to demographic differences. Employing a cumulative disadvantage framework that integrates elements of informal social control and labeling theories, this article examines whether academic achievement serves as a positive turning point and re-directs juvenile delinquents away from subsequent offending. Attention is also given to race/sex contingencies. Using a sample of 4,147 delinquents released from Florida correctional institutions (86% male, 57% non-White, average age at release = 16.8 years), propensity score analysis yielded two findings: youth with above average academic achievement while incarcerated were significantly more likely to return to school post-release, and youth with above average attendance in public school were significantly less likely to be re-arrested in the 1-year post-release period. While the academic gains were pronounced among African-American males, the preventive effects of school attendance are similar across race and sex, suggesting that education can be a part of a larger prevention effort that assists juvenile delinquents in successful community re-entry.
authors.affiliation: College of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Florida State University, 634 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1127, USA. tblomberg@fsu.edu
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Blomberg
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Bales
authors.forename: Alex R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Piquero
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data