Criminogenic Needs of Young Adults on Probation: Implications for Interventions

BACKGROUND

In 2014, approximately 33% of the 3.8 million individuals on community supervision were young adults aged 18-24. Social workers are often on the front-lines serving young adults who are involved in the criminal justice system, many of whom have behavioral health and physical health disorders and have higher levels of criminogenic risks and needs compared to older justice-involved adults. Indeed, there is evidence that recidivism rates are higher among younger adults compared to older adults; however, more research is needed to examine how younger versus older criminal justice populations differ with respect to criminogenic and behavioral health needs, and how, among younger justice-involved adults, criminogenic needs differ among males and females. To this end, we used statewide administrative data to examine how criminogenic risks and needs vary based on age and gender. 

METHOD

We used 2010 statewide administrative data from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to examine supervision risk levels and criminogenic needs of 19,356 probationer’s aged 18-25 versus 38,391 probationers aged 26–64. Specifically, we used North Carolina’s risk and needs assessment (RNA) to examine criminogenic risks and needs, including measures of substance abuse, anti-social personality traits, anti-social values, self-control, and history of dysfunctional family. The RNA combines criminal justice history and characteristics with offender self-report data to classify offenders as high, moderate or low risk. Among the probationers aged 18-25 years, the average age was 21.4 (SD=2.2) and 45.0% (n=8,712) were white, 48.1% (n=9,308) were black and 2.3% (n=450) were Hispanic. The sample was predominately male (14,695; 75.9%) and 41.9% (n=8,103) had obtained a high school diploma or GED. Among the older probationers aged 26–64, the average age was 38.5 (SD=9.3) and 49.5% (n=18,996) were white, 44.2% (n=16,591) were black and 2.5% (n=948) were Hispanic. The sample was predominately male (28,445; 74.1%) and 48.9% (n=18,611) had obtained a high school diploma or GED.

RESULTS

Compared to older adults, younger adults were more likely to be classified as having moderate or high criminogenic risk levels (79% vs. 95%, OR=0.17, p<.01). Also, older adults had higher scores on the measure of substance use (d=.08, p<.001); however, younger adults scored higher on measures of anti-social personality (d=.25, p<.001), anti-social values (d=.24, p<.001), poor self-control (d=.13, p<.001) and dysfunctional family history (d=.16, p<.001). In addition, within the young adult moderate and high-risk sample, males (n=14,600) had higher scores on measures of anti-social values [d=.18; p<.001], anti-social personality traits [d=.18; p<.001], and substance use [d=.16; p<.001]. Women (n=3,935) had higher scores on measures of dysfunctional family history [d=.19; p<.001] and poor self-control [d=.05; p<.01].

IMPLICATIONS

Young adults make up a significant proportion of individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Our findings suggest that criminogenic risks and needs vary by age and gender. In order to reduce the number of adults under correctional supervision, interventions that target criminogenic risks and needs must be tailored to the unique challenges presented by young adults in the criminal justice system, and recognize the different risk and need profiles of males versus females.