NCJ Number
231403
Date Published
July 2009
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between juveniles' risk of re-offending and whether they received custodial versus non-custodial penalties.
Abstract
The results of this study indicate that, in the short term, juveniles who receive custodial orders are no less likely to reoffend than juveniles who receive non-custodial penalties. These results differ from the results of previous studies on this issue. This difference may be the result of the current study using better controls for prior criminal record. The current study examined the rate of re-offending between 2 groups of juvenile offenders - those given a detention sentence (n=152) and those given a non-custodial sentence (n=243). Juveniles in the two samples were interviewed through the use of written questionnaires about their family life, school performance, association with delinquent peers, and substance abuse. Follow-up interviews were conducted to determine the rate and degree of re-offending among the two groups. Findings from the interviews indicate that custodial sentences do not act as a strong deterrent for juvenile re-offending. Tables, figures, notes, references, and appendix