Recidivism Among Juvenile Offenders Following Release from Residential Placements: Multivariate Predictors and Gender Differences

Abstract

ABSTRACT Using a sample of 580 juvenile offenders released from out-of-home placements, this study regressed 18-month recidivism on 33 possible predictors. Over 52 percent of juveniles had new adjudications. Only gender, age, victimization history, and presence of special education needs significantly predicted recidivism. When separate models were estimated for males and females, most of these variables remained significant for males, but none were predictive of female recidivism; the only variable predictive of the latter was previous out-of-home placements. Points of consistency and inconsistency with previous research are discussed, as are implications of the findings for aftercare programming and future research.