Poly--ictimization Among Girls in the Justice System: Trajectories of Risk and Associations to Juvenile Offending

• NCJ Number: 249455
• Author(s): Dana D. DeHart, Robert Moran
• Date Published: March 2015
• Length: 22 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: Poly-victimization history among girls adjudicated delinquent

Annotation

This study used the Life History Calendars and the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire to collect data from 100 delinquent girls to examine (a) range and co-occurrence of different types of violence over the life span, (b) independent and cumulative trajectories of risk for varied types of victimization, and (c) the relationship of victimization to girls’ offending.

Abstract

Risk trajectories showed critical risk periods for different forms of violence exposure. Cox regression was used to examine the predictive value of different forms of violence exposure for the onset of delinquent and criminal behavior. Findings illuminate the need for programs that address substance use and alternative coping mechanisms. (Publisher abstract modified)