Examining the Impact of Victimization on Girls' Delinquency: A Study of Direct and Indirect Effects

• NCJ Number: 253991
• Author(s): Johanna. Peterson; Dana DeHart; Emily Wright
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2006-WG-BX-0011
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Poly-victimization history among girls adjudicated delinquent

Annotation

Since previous research has acknowledged that there is a relationship between victimization and later delinquency, but the specific attributes of this relationship are unclear because measures of both direct and indirect victimization are rarely explored in a single study, the current study included both indirect and direct victimization to examine which form of victimization was a stronger predictor of substance use, fighting, running away, and sex work among girls committed to a juvenile justice facility.

Abstract

The study's findings indicate that direct victimization was typically a more salient predictor of delinquency than indirect forms of victimization. Further, running away and sex work appeared to be unique outcomes that were particularly likely when girls experienced direct rather than indirect victimization. Findings are summarized with implications for health and public policy. (publisher abstract modified)