NCJ Number
81130
Date Published
1979
Length
97 pages
Annotation
This report describes the prevalance of absconding incidents within the New York State Division for Youth (DFY) residential programs, the relationship between such incidents and individual characteristics, and correlates of absent-without-leave (AWOL) duration.
Abstract
All incidents noted herein occurred during 1977 and 1978. Data were obtained from the population-billing file of the Division's contact system. Univariate and bivariate analyses of AWOL incidents and their correlates are presented. Between 1977 and 1978, AWOL incidents declined by 1.8 percent, from 1,642 incidents in 1977 to 1,612 incidents in 1978. The systemwide decline masked considerable variation at the program level. There was a 47.5-percent drop in the division's secure level program, a 12.5-percent drop in the division's noncommunity-based programs without secure capability, and a 35-percent increase in incidents involving youths placed in urban homes. Between 1977 and 1978, the median duration of all absconding incidents dropped from 8.9 days to 6 days. The median duration of runaways occurring in 1977 and 1978 were 8.8 and 5.6 days, a 36.4-percent drop. A number of sociodemographic and setting variables were associated with runaway duration. Males, restrictive juvenile delinquents, blacks, Puerto Ricans, and family court-referred youth were more likely to engage in lengthy runaway incidents. Youngsters absconding from more restrictive programs were likely to abscond for more extended periods of time. Notes, 2 figures, 27 tables, and 10 charts are provided.