NCJ Number
216692
Journal
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice: An Interdisciplinary Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 35-56
Date Published
January 2007
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study examined gender differences among a sample of juvenile offenders incarcerated by the Texas Youth Commission (TYC).
Abstract
Results indicated that girls reported the perpetration of more violent offenses than their male counterparts, along with greater levels of maltreatment and depression. Physical abuse, drug or alcohol abuse, stressful life events, and gang membership were significantly associated with violent offending for both female and male delinquents. The results also revealed that most of the juvenile participants entered the correctional system with serious mental health problems. The findings suggest that there is a pressing need for increased research, training, and services for incarcerated youth, particularly violent delinquents and those with mental health problems. Reentry programs are also needed to enhance the treatment effects obtained during juvenile detention and to further increase juveniles’ changes for success in their communities. Data were drawn from the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA), which conducted face-to-face interviews with 1,083 newly admitted male and female offenders to the TYC intake facility. Participants were randomly selected from all newly entering offender rosters. Interviews focused on illicit and licit substance abuse, criminal history, physical and mental health, high-risk sexual behaviors, prior physical and sexual abuse, and demographic information. Data were analyzed using descriptive bivariate statistics, logistic regression models, and ordinary least squares (OLS) multiple regression models. Future research should continue to focus on identifying the issues impacting violent offending among youth. Tables, references