NCJ Number
80422
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from a Kansas study of the relationship between health conditions and delinquent behavior.
Abstract
The study hypothesized that youth in State custody for committing felonies (delinquent) or misdemeanors (miscreant), for uncontrollable behavior (wayward), or as a result of parental abuse or neglect (deprived) and who also had behavior problems would have a high incidence of late-detected health problems, particularly in the areas of hearing, hyperactivity, brain damage, and speech. Records were reviewed and interviews were conducted with the staff for four groups of youth in custody: those in group boarding homes due to abuse and neglect (n=63); delinquent, miscreant, and wayward youth in group boarding homes (n=41); boys in the youth center at Topeka (n=25); and girls in the Youth Center at Beloit (n=25). The abused and neglected youth were divided into two groups -- those with and those without behavior problems, and no, early-, and late-detected health problems were compared. The youth without behavior problems were viewed as a control group. Data provide evidence of a link between late-detected health problems and behavior problems. Recommendations based on the findings are that maternity and infant care projects be expanded, a child health assessment for first-time attendance at a Kansas school be required, and the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program be required or encouraged for all children receiving Medicaid. Eleven footnotes, 10 references, and tabular data are provided.