Juvenile Justice and the Family: A Systems Approach to Family Assessment (From Deviance and the Family, P 155-172, 1988, Frank E Hagan and Marvin B Sussman, eds. -- See NCJ-113701)

• NCJ Number: 113711
• Author(s): J E McGaha; D G Fournier
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES), a 30-item self-report questionnaire, identifies families according to type and level of function or dysfunction within a circumplex model that characterizes family systems in terms of an adaptability continuum ranging from rigid to chaotic and cohesion continuum ranging from disengaged to enmeshed.

Abstract

The clinical utility of FACES and the circumplex model was evaluated in data for 40 juveniles referred for court intake and 50 of their parents. Compared to national norms, the study sample was significantly less cohesive and much more rigid. Juveniles from families scoring in the extreme range tended to commit more violent crimes and status offenses, while those from balanced and midrange families were more likely to commit property crimes such as petty theft, minor vandalism, or liquor-related offenses. Although 70 percent of the families were white, a significant majority of the extreme families were black. These families tended to have less income and education, more children, and a female head of household. Compared to balanced families, midrange and extreme families showed significantly higher levels of stress and nonsignificantly higher levels of conflict. Results suggest that court monitoring and referral to community resources are warranted interventions for extreme families, balanced families probably require minimal and unofficial court intervention, and midrange families appear to be the best prospects for short-term family intervention. 1 figure, 6 tables, and 24 references.