NCJ Number
236788
Date Published
January 2011
Length
46 pages
Annotation
Under contract with the Maine Department of Corrections Division of Juvenile Services (DJS), the Muskie School of Public Service analyzed juvenile recidivism rates in the State for 2010.
Abstract
This report defines "recidivism" as a re-adjudication (juvenile) or conviction (adult) for an offense committed by a youth in Maine within 3 years of his/her first adjudication. The report measures the DJS impact on youth who have been adjudicated and placed under supervision by examining recidivism rates. The number of youth adjudicated for the first time decreased 15.8 percent between 2006 and 2008, from 1,480 to 1,246. Half of these youth were placed under DJS supervision. Just over half of the youth were adjudicated for one offense, and approximately 80 percent were adjudicated for a misdemeanor. Approximately 80 percent of the youth adjudicated were boys. About 70 percent of the youth were between the ages of 15 and 17 when they were adjudicated. Recidivism rates after 1 year ranged between 21.1 percent and 26.5 percent during the 3-year study period. Even after 3 years, 61 percent of the youth did not recidivate. Youth who recidivated tended to do so quickly, with the highest number recidivating within the first 3 months, more than any other time period during the 3 years. Youth classified as low-risk recidivated at lower rates than moderate-risk and high-risk youth. Girls and minority youth scored higher on the YLS-CMI risk assessment in 2007 and 2008, but these groups did not recidivate at higher rates. Extensive tables and figures, 12 references, and appended supplementary information