Delaware Juvenile Recidivism: 1994-1999 Juvenile Residential Level III, IV and V Recidivism Study, November 2000

• NCJ Number: 188386
• Author(s): Jorge Rodriguez-Labarca; John P. O'Connell
• Date Published: November 2000
• Length: 61 pages
• Corporate Author: Delaware Statistical Analysis Ctr
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Delaware Statistical Analysis Ctr
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report details the fifth series of analysis on the repeat criminality, or recidivism, of juveniles released from residential programs administered by the Delaware Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services (YRS) from 1994 to 1999.

Abstract

The YRS administers a continuum of services for pre-adjudicated and adjudicated delinquent youth. Part of the continuum includes residential group care through secure programming for adjudicated youth. Residential Level III programs provide intensive residential group care. Level IV staff secure programs provide 24-hour supervision and general, diagnostic, substance abuse and sex offender treatment. Level V locked secure programs are the most restrictive and provide 24-hour supervision in a locked setting. Recidivism is measured when a youth is arrested after being released from YRS residential Level III, IV, and V program for a felony in Delaware. 3, 848 residential Level III, Level IV and Level V institutional and alternative program release events dating back to July 1994 were analyzed to determine recidivism rates. The YRS program releases were tracked for a minimum of 6 months and up to 4 years after release for both juvenile and subsequent adult arrest. Results showed rearrests within 12 months of release in 1998 for Level III, IV, and V releases. Three different types of recidivism were reported: (1) recidivism where a felony arrest constitutes the most serious criminal activity after release, (2) recidivism where a misdemeanor arrest constitutes the most serious criminal activity after release, and (3) technical violation arrest. Recidivism patterns for 108 Level V releases showed 44 percent felony arrests, 32 percent misdemeanor arrest, and 23 percent no arrest. Recidivism patterns for 609 Level IV releases showed 39 percent felony arrest, 34 percent misdemeanor arrest, and 27 percent no arrest. Recidivism patterns for 60 Level III releases showed 23 percent felony arrests. Tables and graphs