A Longitudinal Examination of African American Adolescent Females Detained for Status Offense

Authors

Dexter R. Voisin, Case Western Reserve UniversityFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

Dexter R. Voisin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-28-2019

Abstract

Introduction: Behaviors like truancy, running away, curfew violation, and alcohol possession fall under the status offense category and can have serious consequences for adolescents. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention Act prohibited detaining status offenders. We explored the degree to which African American adolescent girls were being detained for status offenses and the connections to their behavioral health risks and re-confinement. Methods: 188 African American girls (aged 13–17), recruited from detention facilities, were surveyed at baseline and 3-month follow-ups. Logistic regression models estimated the likelihood of longitudinal re-confinement, controlling for sexual and behavioral health risk factors. Results: One third of the overall sample was detained for a status offense. Status offenders were exposed to higher peer risk profiles. At follow-up, nearly 39% of status offenders reported re-confinement. Compared to youth with other offenses, those who violated a court order (type of status offense) were 3 times more likely to be re-confined. Controlling for sexual and behavioral health risk factors, the odds of re-confinement was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Overall findings suggest that courts and detention facilities must devote specialized resources to addressing the socio-behavioral needs of African American girls with status offenses so as not to use detention as an intervention.

Keywords

African American females, African American youth, deinstitutionalization, detention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act, status offense

Publication Title

Children and Youth Services Review

Rights

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd.

Comments

This is a peer reviewed Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Children and Youth Services Review, available at: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104648

Recommended Citation

Kim BE, Quinn CR, Logan-Greene P, DiClemente R, Voisin D. A longitudinal examination of African American adolescent females detained for status offense. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2020 Jan;108:104648. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104648. Epub 2019 Nov 28. PMID: 32565590; PMCID: PMC7304544.