HOW CAN THEY BE TYPIFIED?

Trajectories of delinquent behaviour of institutionalized girls.

September, 2008European Society of Criminology

Thessa WongVU University Amsterdam

Overview of Presentation

MethodsTrajectoriesType of offences in each of the trajectoriesType of girls in each of the trajectoriesConclusion

MethodsWho are the girls?

Harreveld: juvenile justice institution in The Netherlands

Residential treatment Discharged Jan. ’92 – Dec. ’95Minimal length of stay: 2 monthsComplete treatment dossier= 147 girls

MethodsWhat is measured?

Judicial documentationAge: 12 – 33 (March, 2008)Dossier variables

Psychological factors (intelligence, personality, disorders) Substance abuse Family factors (criminal models, parental neglect,

divorce) Peer factors (delinquent friends, contact with peers)

Analyses

Group based trajectory models Maximum likelihood estimation

Cross-tabs

Trajectories4 group model

0

0,5

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2,5

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Age

Nu

mb

er o

f O

ffen

ces

Adolescence Limited

Low Desistance

High Desistance

Late Onset

TrajectoriesAdolescent Limited (42.9%)

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1,5

2

2,5

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Age

Nu

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er o

f O

ffen

ces

Adolescence Limited

Low Desistance

High Desistance

Late Onset

TrajectoriesLow Desistance (45.6%)

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0,5

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1,5

2

2,5

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Age

Nu

mb

er o

f O

ffen

ces

Adolescence Limited

Low Desistance

High Desistance

Late Onset

TrajectoriesHigh Desistance (7.5%)

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Age

Nu

mb

er o

f O

ffen

ces

Adolescence Limited

Low Desistance

High Desistance

Late Onset

TrajectoriesLate Onset (4.1%)

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0,5

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1,5

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2,5

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Age

Nu

mb

er o

f O

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Adolescence Limited

Low Desistance

High Desistance

Late Onset

Type of OffencesAdolescent Limited (42.9%)

63 girlsCommited 4.1% (27) of total offences 74.1% property offenses 11.1% violent offenses11.1% public order

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2, 5

Type of OffencesLow Desistance (45.6%)

67 girlsCommitted 38.3% (251) of all offenses 36.3% property offences18.7% violent offences (committed by

40%)12% public order offenceMore drugs offences than other

groupsMore traffic offences than other

groups

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1

1, 5

2

2, 5

Type of OffencesHigh Desistance (7.5%)

11 girlsCommitted 35% (229) of all offenses49.3% property offences12.7% violent offences14.8% public order offencesMore weapon use than other groups

0

0, 5

1

1, 5

2

2, 5

Type of OffencesLate Onset (4.1%)

6 girlsCommitted 22.6% (148) of total

offenses54.1% property offences 9.5% violent offences 6.1% public order offences

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0, 5

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1, 5

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2, 5

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Type of GirlsIn general

Highly neuroticHighly impulsiveHighly thrill seeking80% depressedAround 9% attempted suicideAround 65% used drugsNot many alcohol abusers30-45% sexual abusedOnly 3 girls normal parent-child relationship

Type of GirlsAdolescent Limited (42.9%)

Average intelligenceLow self-esteem 2/3 problems with aggression

regulationBetter social skills than girls other

groups 1/3 personality disorder (MOST)

Less negative life events Moderate contact with peers57.1% delinquent friends18% from divorced family

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2, 5

Type of GirlsAdolescent Limited (42.9%)

In combination with offending behaviour

Individual and environmental factors least problematic for this group

And so is delinquent behaviour Personality disorders

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1

1, 5

2

2, 5

Type of GirlsLow Desistance (45.6%)

Average intelligenceLow self-esteem2/3 problems with aggression regulationBad to very bad social skillsAlmost no girls with personality disorder

Many negative life events (less than HD)Bad to moderate contact with peers 69% delinquent friends37% from divorced family

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1, 5

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2, 5

Type of GirlsLow Desistance (45.6%)

In combination with offending behaviour:

Individual and environmental factors quite problematic, but

Minor delinquent behaviourExcept violent behaviourThreshold?

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1

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2

2, 5

Type of Girls High Desistance (7.5%)

Low intelligent 100% problems with regulating

aggressionVery bad social skillsVery low self esteem

Very bad contact with peers ¾ delinquent friends100% experienced negative life

events36% from divorced family

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1

1, 5

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2, 5

Type of Girls High Desistance (7.5%)

In combination with offending behaviour

Most ‘typical’ delinquentsProfile similar to Low Desisters, but

more negativeHowever, big difference in frequency

of offendingThreshold

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1, 5

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Type of Girls Late Onset (4.1%)

High intelligent Low self esteemNot really good social skillsNo personality disorders

Delinquent friendsRelatively little negative life eventsNo really good contact with peersNo divorce

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1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Type of Girls Late Onset (4.1%)

In combination with offending behaviour

More difficult to typify because of small n

Relatively little risk factorsHigh impressionable?

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1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Conclusion

Clearly different groups of girlsMost girls do not cause a lot of problems

(88%!)Correct expectation recidivism by institution