Dually Supervised Youth and Non-Dually Supervised Youth: Factors Affecting on Recidivism

Background: The relationship between child maltreatment and delinquency has been well established.  However, few studies have explained the contributing factors in the maltreatment-delinquency relationship and the risk of recidivism. The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in risk and protective factors that intervene in the relationship between maltreatment and delinquency and the risk of recidivism between dually supervised youth, and youth who are only supervised by the juvenile justice system.    

Methodology: A total of 3,000 dually supervised youth was identified from a large, ethnically diverse juvenile justice system.  Out of 3,000, 10% were randomly selected for the current study (N=282).  A sample of 300 control group youth was also randomly selected from 20,000 active cases.  Youth were ethnically diverse, with Latinos (60%), African Americans (28.3%), Caucasians (8.7%), and others (2.9%), and with males (78.4%) being the majority.  The Risk and Resiliency Checkup (RRC) was used to assess for risk and protective factors (α=.95).  Risk and protective factors consisted of six domains: delinquency, education, family, peer, substance use, and individual factors.  Recidivism was coded as having a re-arrest or no re-arrest during the study period. Arrest records were counted when delinquent activity was filed as a petition.  

Results: Dually supervised youth were more likely to be female (χ²=11.643, df=1, p=.001) and African American (χ²=27.741, df=4, p<.000), compared to non-dually supervised youth.  At first arrest, dually supervised youth were more likely to be old (t=-2.218, df=581, p=.027), and to be charged for a misdemeanor offense (χ²=6.200, df=2, p=.045) than their non-dually supervised counterparts.  Dually supervised youth were also found to have significantly lower protective scores (t=2.860, df=581, p=.004) and higher risk scores (t=-3.871, df=581, p<.000), specifically in the family and substance abuse domains compared to non-dually supervised youth.  Univariate survival analysis revealed that protective factors in education (B=-.076, p=.032), family (B=-.061, p=.051), and delinquency (B=-.060, p=.077) were significantly related to time to recidivism.  Three delinquency characteristics of age at first arrest (B=.150, p=.031), current age (B=-.341, p<.000), and number of arrests (B=.177, p=.003) were also significant in predicting time to recidivism after controlling for covariates. 

Conclusion:  Findings from this study suggest gender and racial/ethnic differences among dually supervised youth. Dually supervised youth contribute disproportionately to females and African American entering the juvenile justice system. Although dually supervised youth became arrested at older age with misdemeanor charges, compared to their counterparts, they continue offending and eventually ending up with similar number of arrests and re-arrest activities. Not surprisingly, dually supervised youth also had a weak family relationship and substance abuse problems.  In addition, youth with a strong family bond and engaged in their education were less likely to re-offend.  Implementation of interventions should focus on female and African American youth in child welfare in strengthening family bonds and/or providing strong support systems as well as engaging them in educational activities to prevent them being arrested with misdemeanor offense and continuing offending.