Recidivism in the juvenile justice system: An analysis of critical variables

This study examined the relationship between timing of consequences, gender, age, parental household structure, substance use, mental health diagnoses, treatment involvement and juvenile recidivism. Data were obtained from 136 (males = 105, females = 31) official juvenile records acquired from a large suburban county located in the Midwestern region of the United States. Results revealed a significant relationship between mental health diagnoses and recidivism within the juvenile justice system (χ² (1, 134) = 6.82, p. < .01). Results also demonstrated that as the age of a juvenile offender increases, recidivism decreases, at a level approaching significance (r = −.16, p. < .07). All other variables examined in the current study were found not to be significantly associated with recidivism. Limitations of the current study include the relatively small size of the sample, small number of females, and the location of participants in a specific geographic region. Additionally, juveniles whose cases were dismissed were excluded from the study and the current study's definition of delayed consequences may need to be revised. Further research with larger more representative samples is needed to continue to examine the impact of timing of consequences, gender, age, parenting practices, and substance use and abuse on juvenile recidivism. However, the study's findings support the importance of mental health diagnoses as a predictor of recidivism among juvenile offenders. The findings suggest a need to identify juveniles with mental health problems as they enter the juvenile justice system and to provide efficacious mental health programs for juvenile offenders.