Familial Aspects of Violence Among Youth in Boot Camp

ABSTRACT

The present study is designed to examine what sociodemographic and theoretical factors are predictors of crimes against persons among inmates in a boot camp for non-violent offenders. This is the only boot camp for adults in Arkansas and is for first-admissions to the Department of Correction. Self-report data indicated that forty-four percent of the 326 study participants, aged 15 to 24 years, had committed at least five crimes against persons. Elements from social control and social learning theories are analyzed.

The statistically significant (alpha = 0.05) predictors in order of size of the standardized regression coefficients (Beta) show crimes against persons increase as: (a) months in a gang and drug use increase (b) months in gang are lengthened, (c) illicit drugs are used more frequently, (d) selling drugs rises, (e) carrying a weapon becomes more often, (f) self-esteem lessens, (g) the relationship with mother (or female caregiver) becomes more distant, (h) feelings of frustration rises, (i) beliefs in the moral validity of societal laws and norms diminish, (j) religiosity lessens, and (k) association with peers who engage in unlawful behavior becomes more frequent.

keywordset:

• Familial factors
• boot camp
• violence
• religiosity
• gangs
• drugs