A Two-State Examination of Varied Measurement Strategies for Juvenile Reoffending

The purpose of this project is to collaborate with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) and the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) to examine demographic, risk, and protective factors and the extent to which these factors differentially predict 100 different potential measures of reoffending. The expected sample size includes 400,000 youth in Florida and 35,500 youth in Oregon. The study will employ two types of multilevel (hierarchical) regression models. One that will explicitly test the differences between the predictors of different reoffending measures and another that will test whether the amount of between-program and -community variability in juvenile reoffending depends on the measure of reoffending. The expected impacts include providing Florida with more information about variation in the reoffending rates of youth completing its programs and variation in reoffending rates across jurisdictions. In Oregon, the researchers expect to recommend a new statewide reoffending measure. The products of the project will include interim and final reports, as well as datasets and associated, empirical papers in publications that reach researchers as well as those that reach practitioners and policymakers. The research team will also disseminate the project findings to researchers, juvenile justice agencies, practitioners, and policymakers through a multi-prong dissemination effort.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14). CA/NCF