Juvenile Inmates in an Adult Prison System

Abstract

Rates of disciplinary misconduct and violence among juvenile male inmates ( N = 703) admitted to a state prison system from 1998 to 2002 are retrospectively examined. The prevalence and frequency of prison misconduct and violence are higher among juveniles than comparison groups of nearest age youthful adults ( N = 3,640) and adult prisoners generally ( N = 33,114), and this disparity between juvenile and adult inmates increases along with the severity of violence. This relationship is found to hold true even when other known correlates of prison violence are considered. In a logistic regression model that included educational level, gang affiliation, offense of conviction, and sentence length, age is found to be the most consistent and strongest determinant of prison violence, with those younger than 18 at entrance to prison being far more likely than adults to be involved in various levels of prison misconduct and violence.