Profiles of Juvenile Offenders in Washington State Division of Juvenile Rehabilitation Facilities: Results From a 1990 Survey of Youth in Residence

• NCJ Number: 129923
• Author(s): J C Steiger; D Knobel
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 21 pages
• Corporate Author: Washington Dept of Social and Health Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A survey of 267 randomly selected juvenile offenders in juvenile correctional facilities in Washington formed the basis of a needs assessment of juvenile inmates in the State.

Abstract

Counselors who were assigned to youths in the sample completed questionnaires on the needs and characteristics of the sampled youths. The analysis produced a profile of youths in institutions, youth forest camps, State-operated group homes, and contracted facilities. Results showed that the average offender was 17 years old, that 94 percent were males, and that 34 percent were minority youth. Sixty percent had committed violent offenses, 12 percent violent sexual offenses, 5 percent other offenses, and 23 percent only property offenses. Forty-four percent had needs for medical or dental services, 30 percent had a history of suicide ideation or threats, and 51 percent were drug-dependent. In addition, 48 percent had learning disabilities, 51 percent had inadequate job-seeking skills, 22 percent had been sexually abused, 56 percent came from dysfunctional families, and 19 percent had escaped from custody at least once. Tables, profiles of individual facilities, reference notes, and appended methodological information and tables