Secondary Analysis of the Survey of Youth in Residential Placement Data

The purpose of research is to examine racial disparity among youth placed in residential facilities. Using data from the Survey of Youth in Residential Placement (SYRP) in 2003, this secondary analysis will assess disparity using information concerning background characteristics, youth experiences while incarcerated, and expectations for life after incarceration. In 2003, the SYRP was administered to a sample of youth residing in 204 residential placement facilities in 35 states. Youth self-report included responses to items regarding demographics, living conditions and calls to family, circumstances and sentence for the current offense, substance use and treatment, emotional problems and treatment, medical service needs and utilization, educational needs and services, rules and treatment by staff, victimization, prior offenses, and expectations for the future. Additional data from the Juvenile Residential Facility Census (JRFC) will be used to provide information about the contexts in which youth participants reside. The JRFC provides facility information concerning private or public ownership and facility operation, locked sleeping rooms, mental health evaluation at intake, availability and type of mental health counseling, substance abuse evaluation at intake, and type of counseling and therapy available for substance abuse. Racial and ethnic disparities will be examined using background characteristics, experiences while incarcerated, and future expectation. ca/ncf