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Mental Health Issues and Recidivism among Male, System -Involved Youth

Schell, Christopher Gregory

Abstract Details

2017, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology.
This study examines the association between symptoms of mental health issues and self-reported recidivism in a sample of 642 male, system-involved youth over a period of 18 months. The sample comes from the `Research on Pathways to Desistance’ study, designed by Edward P. Mulvey. Drawing on theories of systemic racism and disproportionate minority contact, as well as policies created during the `War on Drugs’, I compare the experiences of African-American and White juvenile offenders. Findings from negative binomial regression analyses indicate that symptoms of mental health issues among juveniles are associated with all types of recidivism— namely, property crimes, violent crimes, and drug crimes—at some point during the 18 month follow up period, while controlling for: race; age; parental socioeconomic status; alcohol and drug use; perception of justice; exposure to violence; neighborhood conditions; and the proportion of time in the community and not secure-placement. This study highlights the need for more research examining racial disparities in recidivism and mental health, and the importance of considering symptomatology. By confirming the prevalence of symptoms of mental health issues among juveniles, the study also underscores the need to identify and treat mental health issues in order to prevent recidivism.
Tiffany Bergin, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Allyson Drinkard, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Pamela Tontodonato, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
83 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schell, C. G. (2017). Mental Health Issues and Recidivism among Male, System -Involved Youth [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1498318986889895

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schell, Christopher. Mental Health Issues and Recidivism among Male, System -Involved Youth. 2017. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1498318986889895.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schell, Christopher. "Mental Health Issues and Recidivism among Male, System -Involved Youth." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1498318986889895

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)