NCJ Number
194164
Date Published
January 2002
Length
86 pages
Annotation
This annual report presents an analysis of return-to-custody outcomes for juvenile offenders committed to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections for 1999 and comparisons for 1996 through 1998 release cohorts.
Abstract
In order to comply with statutory requirements enacted in 1996 that established broad parameters for Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC), an annual report was designed to communicate information on juvenile offenders committed to ADJC. This report, prepared by the Research and Development of the ADJC and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD), is the fifth in a series of annual outcome evaluations that examine short-term (12-months) and long-term (24 and 36 months) changes in the frequency and severity of delinquent behavior. The report is organized into six sections: (1) characteristics of the 1999, or latest, release cohort to be studied and comparisons of the 12, 24, and 36 month return-to-custody rates for the released cohorts and results of the tracking of ADJC releases 48 months after their release; (2) specific success and return-to-custody rates of the ADJC institutions, housing units, and parole offices; (3) various recidivism topics of interest to the ADJC Leadership Team; (4) a comparison of ADJC return-to-custody rates with those of comparable states; (5) conclusions; and (6) future research. Recidivism for this study was measured as a return-to-custody by either a parole revocation or recommitment to ADJC or a sentence to the Arizona Department of Corrections. Results indicated that in the most recent year for which statistics were available (1999) fewer ADJC releases returned to custody within 1 to 2 years of their release than in previous. In general ADJC institutional success rates for the 1999 release cohort improved over the success rates for the 1998 release cohort. The study also found that, up to a certain point, the longer ADJC juveniles spent in secure custody, the lower their return-to-custody rates. When serving less than 6 months, the return rate was higher. The results from the logistic regression analysis of 3,624 juveniles released from ADJC from 1996 through 1999 identified characteristics that correlated highly with return-to-custody. The characteristics included: males, young, minorities, substance abusers, habitually abused or neglected juveniles, juveniles involved in gangs, juvenile repeat property offenders, and juveniles with a high number of referrals or petitions or adjudications. ADJC compared favorably to most other States when comparing the State return-to-custody rates and using the same recidivism definitions. Tables, appendices and references