Date of Award

10-16-2023

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Scott Leon

Abstract

Experiences within juvenile justice placements have long been a topic of concern amongst researchers and policy makers, with institutional violence exposure and harsh treatment being two such reasons for concern. The majority of adolescents who enter the justice system already have extensive violence exposure, which can continue while they are detained through victimization and witnessed violence. One’s adjustment to justice settings is influenced by characteristics and experiences prior to placement, and institutional experiences may also have influences on mental health and behavior after release. In the current study, reports from justice-involved adolescents were used to 1) identify profiles of institutional experience via measures of violence exposure, sanctions, and restrictions during stays in justice settings, 2) identify demographic/historical, institutional, and psychological correlates of institutional experience profiles, and 3) examine the association between institutional experience and outcomes of reoffending and psychological symptoms post-release. Results showed three classes of youth with differing patterns of institutional experience. One of these classes, with the highest reported violence exposure and sanctions in institutional settings, had the highest levels of pre-institutional violence exposure and hostility in comparison to the other two classes. Demographic factors including age and gender appeared to influence post-release reoffending, but institutional experience profiles did not predict significant differences in mental health or offending beyond the effects of pre-institutional covariates. Results of this study may be used to identify adolescents at increased risk for violence exposure and victimization within institutional settings. Future research is needed to examine additional institutional factors’ impact on youth behavior and psychological functioning. The current study may be useful for justice staff and health professionals working with adolescents in institutional settings, especially in understanding the connections between trauma histories and acting out behaviors in such settings.

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