NCJ Number
177521
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: March 1999 Pages: 256-262
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Personality traits and their relationship to juvenile delinquency and juvenile recidivism were examined using data from 481 incarcerated male juvenile delinquents in California.
Abstract
The youths completed questionnaires assessing distress and restraint relating to personality characteristics. The research also used the youths' official records and official follow-up information from a subsample of 148 juveniles who were followed for up to 4.5 years after release. Results indicated a significant association between self-reported levels of distress and restraint and prior criminal behavior, as well as behavior during incarceration. In addition, 67 percent of the sample surveyed were rearrested; personality traits measured during incarceration were predictive of recidivism rates, above and beyond the effects of such criminological factors as age and number of prior offenses. Findings supported the opinion that juvenile delinquents are a heterogeneous population in terms of personality features and that these traits have discriminant and predictive validity. Thus, adding personality measures to the assessment of juvenile delinquents may aid understanding of how personality influences criminal activity and future recidivism. This understanding may be useful for targeting specific domains of functioning to develop more effective intervention strategies. Figures and 34 references (Author abstract modified)