NCJ Number
147396
Journal
International Journal of Addictions Volume: 28 Issue: 7 Dated: (May 1993) Pages: 631-658
Date Published
1993
Length
28 pages
Annotation
In extending previous analyses from a longitudinal study of juvenile detainees, this study examined whether the youths' alcohol or other drug use and their emotional/psychological problems at admission to detention predicted subsequent arrests for new offenses.
Abstract
A total of 396 and 395 youths respectively, were represented in the 36- and 42-month recidivism analyses. Previous analyses (Dembo et al., 1991) addressed the youths' arrests through the 30 months following their initial interviews. For the analyses reported in this article, official records of contact with the juvenile justice system, adult arrests recorded in the information systems of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and State Attorney of Hillsborough County, or involvement in the Florida Department of Corrections were obtained for each youth during the sixth 6 and seventh 6-month periods following the interview. Results show statistically significant relationships between the various predictor variables and the various recidivism measures. The amount of variance ranged from 12 percent to 30 percent. Statistically significant relationships were found between the youths' demographic characteristics (age, race, gender) and cocaine use at initial interviews (as measured by urinalysis), and recidivism. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. 5 tables and 64 references