NCJ Number
91664
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 63 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1983) Pages: 80-90
Date Published
1983
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study provides information on the attitudes, behaviors, attributes, and sexual and racial differences of sexual victims in a triracial coeducational correctional system.
Abstract
The original sample (N=561) consisted of male and female residents aged 7-17 assigned to the six training schools in one juvenile correctional system located in the southeast. The residents were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire reporting a number of factors, including age, sex, race, height, weight, amount of time in institutions, length of current stay, and runaway activity. Respondents also answered a series of questions regarding their own attitudes toward institutional life, staff, other residents, and their concern with victimization. Staff completed a self-administered questionnaire which reports on residents' attitudes, roles and behaviors within the institution. Almost 10 percent of the residents were identified as sexual victims. They are usually 14 or 15 years-old, and they include both males and females in equal proportions of blacks and whites. The sexual exploiters are frequently older black youths. About one-third of the sexual victims exploit other residents. All evidence indicates that sexual victims find their institutional experience very painful. They do not feel close to staff and use every opportunity to engage in manipulative behavior toward the staff. Overall, juvenile justice institutions do not provide care and protection for their residents. Tabular data and 21 bibliographic entries are provided.