Polyvictimization Among Girls in the Juvenile Justice System [South Carolina], 2006-2009

• NCJ Number: 249168
• Author(s): Dana DeHart
• Date Published: August 2015
• Grant Number(s): 2006-WG-BW-0011
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

This study sought to understand different types of girls' exposure to multiple forms of victimization and factors such as trajectory of risk over the lifespan, dependence of different forms of exposure, and ways that cumulative impacts influence life outcomes.

Abstract

This study collected lifespan data on girls' victimization and juvenile offending to: (1) examine range, diversity, and co-occurrence of different types of violence over the course of girls' lives, identifying strength and dynamics of relationships between forms of exposure; (2) examine independent, relative, and cumulative trajectories of risk for varied types of victimization over the lifespan, including critical periods of risk; (3) examine additional ecological factors as these relate to victimization; and (4) examine relationship of victimization to nature and chronicity of girls' offending. Life History Calendars were used in conjunction with the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire to examine co-occurrence of multiple forms of abuse and develop a comprehensive view of girls' experiences. The sample consisted of 100 girls adjudicated delinquent through the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ) and up to one primary caregiver for each girl.