Natural Experiment in Deviant Peer Exposure and Youth Recidivism

Abstract

Little empirical data exist addressing potential iatrogenic effects of placing youth in juvenile justice settings. We took advantage of a natural experiment in one state where juvenile offenders are evaluated in either residential settings characterized by high-density contact with delinquent youth or community settings with naturally varying contact with delinquent peers. Higher rates of subsequent recidivism were found among first-time offenders when evaluation occurred in residential (N = 1,255) as opposed to community settings (N = 752). This finding was replicated in a subset (N = 634 per group) matched using propensity scores for five predictors of recidivism. Findings are interpreted in light of a deviancy training process occurring in residential juvenile justice settings.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from NIMH R03MH075808 to the first author.

Notes

*These statistical comparisons of residential verses community evaluation groups were significantly different (p < .05).

Note. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 indicate earlier/more probable recidivism.

Family History = family history of involvement in the justice system reported; Placement = comparison of placement in residential evaluation (coded 0) or community evaluation (coded 1); Medium Severity = main effect of medium severity on placement relative to low severity; High Severity = main effect of high severity on placement relative to low severity (dummy-coded); SM = medium severity; SH = high severity.

Note. OR = odds ratio; Family History = family history of involvement in the justice system reported; Placement = comparison of placement in residential evaluation or community evaluation; Medium Severity = main effect of medium severity on placement relative to low severity; High Severity = main effect of high severity on placement relative to low severity; SM = medium severity; SH = high severity.

*Analysis for effect of cohort.