Continuity of the delinquent career behind bars: Predictors of violent misconduct among female delinquents

Publication date: Available online 15 June 2019Source: Aggression and Violent BehaviorAuthor(s): Jessica M. Craig, Chad R. TrulsonAbstractWhile many scholars have investigated potential predictors of institutional misconduct among adult inmates, few have assessed the determinants of misconduct among incarcerated juvenile delinquents. This lack of research attention to the predictors of institutional misconduct is especially notable among female delinquents. As females have been theorized to have unique pathways to offending, it is pertinent to examine their pathways to institutional misconduct. The current study investigates potential predictors of violent misconduct among a large sample (n = 1061) of state-committed serious female delinquents in a large southern state. Using negative binomial regression models, a large number of variables were examined that describe the youths' background, delinquency history, and commitment offense. While only a few individual-level factors such as poor mental health predicted violent misconduct, a larger number of delinquent history measures such as committing a violent offense and being sentenced to a blended sentence emerged as important predictors of involvement in violent institutional misconduct. Policy implications and limitations of the study are also discussed.

Source: Aggression and Violent Behavior - June 16, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research