How Are They Different? An Exploration of Family and School Factors among Post-Adjudicated Young Women

Abstract

This study explores the associations between family and school factors, and their relationship to criminal risk among post-adjudicated diverse young women. Cross-sectional data were collected through the Positive Achievement Change Tool using seven measures of family and school factors (n = 365). After controlling for age, this model (Family incarceration, Running away from home, School suspension or Expulsion, Abuse, Neglect and Special education need) emerged as significant predictors of criminal risk (p ≤ .001). However, only family incarceration and special education needs (learning, behavioral or ADHD/ADD) were predictive of higher levels of criminal risk for Black young women while running away from home was predictive for Hispanic young women. Interventions should be gender-specific and culturally responsive in addressing family and school factors that impact diverse young women.

Keywords:

• Justice-involved young women
• family and school predictors
• delinquency
• juvenile justice

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to thank her dissertation committee, Dr. Susan Robbins, Dr. Danielle Parrish and Dr. Charles Lea for their oversight, and Dr. Erin Espinosa for her content expertise. This scholarship was supported by the Tan Ean Kiam scholarship.

ETHICS APPROVAL

This research complies with international, national and/or institutional standards on research involving human participants and/or animals. Informed consent was not required for this research. IRB approval was granted for use of the dataset. Permission to reproduce material from other sources: Not permitted due to restricted nature.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship award.