Youth in Transition: A Comparative Study of Adolescent Girls in Community-Based and Residential Programs

• NCJ Number: 225000
• Author(s): Rosemary Sarri M.S.W. Ph.D.; Mary Ruffolo M.S.W. Ph.D.; Sara Goodkind M.S.W.; Cheri Albertson M.S.W.; Josephine Allen M.S.W. Ph.D.
• Date Published: April 2003
• Length: 264 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2000-JR-VX-0008
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Sale Source: University of Michigan
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In this study, programs designed to improve and increase protective factors for young women involved in and at risk for involvement with the juvenile justice system were examined, comparing those in community-based programs with those in a closed residential facility.

Abstract

Among the young women at the three types of agencies, no differences in results were observed for the following: family environment, experiences of discrimination, positive peer relationships, adolescent interpersonal competency skills, use of rational coping skills, parenting efficacy, and many delinquent acts. Areas where differences were noted primarily applied to those youth in the closed residential facility. They had more negative life events, higher depression scores, had experienced more sexual abuse and family stress, more barriers to services, more negative peer interactions, and more peer pressure. They also used more harmful, acting out, and withdrawal coping behaviors, and had experienced more out-of-home placements. Policy implications and service system implications resulting from this study are presented and discussed. Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of adolescent girls entering the juvenile justice system, however, the system, modeled on male offenders, does not meet the needs of young women for rehabilitation. This research funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention was implemented to understand more about the behavior, experiences, and attitudes of these young women in three types of programs, including programs serving girls living at home, community-based residential, and secure residential. The study was confined to Wayne County, MI which contributes the majority of female delinquency cases processed in the State and the overwhelming majority of those in out-of-home placement. The study sample consisted of 204 delinquent, diverted, and at-risk young women interviewed in the 3 types of agencies. The median age was 15.81 years, 75 percent were youth of color, 56 percent of their families had been on welfare, and most parents were in low-income service and manufacturing occupations. Tables, figures, references, and appendixes A-C