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Title IX prohibits sex-discrimination in colleges in the United States. While colleges must provide training on Title IX, little is known about its effectiveness. This study examined the campus climate and effectiveness of Title IX training among 2,393 college students at a medium-size public university in the south-central region of the U.S. Results indicated 68% of students reported they understood Title IX, yet only 14% correctly understood Title IX prohibited sex-discrimination and 16% correctly understood reporting procedures. Regression analyses found few significant effects for demographics, academic characteristics, satisfaction with the campus, and beliefs about university support on training participation, training knowledge, and help seeking for sexual assault survivors. Positive perceptions of campus climate increased participation in training, efficacy of training, and confidence in helping sexual assault survivors. However, participation in training was negatively impacted by perceptions of faculty support. Age, asexual identity, and Asian identity affected training participation and efficacy.

Many juvenile justice agencies have moved toward risk-need-responsivity and risk-need-assessment approaches to manage youth and reduce future risk of recidivism. The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) instrument is a popular tool to assess risk and protective factors among justice-involved youth. The present study explored the consistency of the Individual/Clinical Risk measure, comprised of eight items (e.g., anger, negative attitudes, empathy), as a single latent factor across five years (2017–2021) of juvenile court data in Mississippi. Further, this study examined gender (male vs. female) and race (Black vs. non-Black) invariance in this risk factor and the predictive validity of the risk factor for one-year recidivism. Findings support the existence of a single factor of Individual/Clinical Risk and consistency across time. The risk factor was invariant across gender and race. Further, the risk factor significantly predicted recidivism in years 2019–2021, and near significantly predicted recidivism for 2017. These findings recommend the continued use of the SAVRY as an evidence-based measure of risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem-behavior theory suggests problem behaviors (e.g. substance use and delinquency) cluster among adolescents. This study explored a second-order problem behavior model of marijuana use, sexual partners, and post-arrest juvenile justice system placement among male adolescents over three waves. Results confirmed a second-order latent factor of problem behaviors, with male adolescents persistently involved in the juvenile justice system experiencing problems with marijuana use, risky sexual behavior, and increased severity of post-arrest placement. Further, older, Hispanic, African American, and urban persistent male delinquents were more likely to demonstrate continued problem behaviors. We discuss implications for future research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many juvenile justice agencies rely on risk assessments to inform administrative decisions about youth placement. While many studies within recent years have explored patterns in criminal offending over time, little research has explored the heterogeneity in youth placement decisions by the juvenile justice system. There is a need to document the patterns, levels, and trends in offense risk among youth entering and reentering the justice system. This study used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of n = 388 male juveniles repeatedly entering a U.S. juvenile justice system based on youth placement decisions. The persistent juvenile offenders were best classified into either a moderately increasing risk placement group or a severely increasing risk placement group. The moderately increasing group experienced more bullying involvement, while the severely increasing group was older and experienced more sexual assault, sexual partners, treatment for drug use problems, and elevated depression. Policy recommendations are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truant youths are likely to engage in a number of problem behaviors, including sexual risky behaviors. Previous research involving non-truant youths has found sexual risk behaviors to be related to marijuana use and depression, with differential effects for male and female youths. Using data collected in a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded, prospective intervention project, results are reported of a male-female, multi-group, longitudinal analysis of the relationships among truant youth baseline sexual risk behavior, marijuana use, and depression, and their sexual risk behavior over four follow-up time points. Results indicated support for the longitudinal model, with female truants having higher depression scores, and showing stronger relationships between baseline depression and future engagement in sexual risk behavior, than male truants. Findings suggest that incorporating strategies to reduce depression and marijuana use may decrease youth sexual risk behavior.

The issue of delinquency among truant youths is insufficiently documented in the literature. There is a need to elucidate this issue, and assess the efficacy of interventions to reduce this problem behavior. The present National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded study addressed this gap by examining the impact of a Brief Intervention (BI), originally designed to address youth substance use, on their delinquent behavior over an 18-month follow-up period (for self-reported delinquency) and a 24-month follow-up period (for official record delinquency). A number of significant BI intervention effects with sizable effect sizes were found, as well as a number of marginally significant BI effects. In particular, significant reductions in arrest charges at 24-month follow-up for youths receiving BI services compared to controls were among the key findings of this study. Service delivery implications and directions for future analyses are discussed.

Research on samples of truant adolescents is limited, with little known about mental health problems among truant youths. This study provided an exploratory, multilevel examination of mental health problems for a sample of 300 truant adolescents. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a single factor of multiple mental health problems at the individual level, but the structure of these problems was not the same at the school level. A number of covariate effects were found at the individual level on the mental health factor. Further, youths attending middle school were more likely to report attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) problems than those in high school. Service and practice implications of better understanding school and mental health issues of truant youth are discussed.

Truant youths are likely to engage in a number of problem behaviors, including sexual risky behaviors. As part of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded, prospective intervention project, a sample of truant youths' sexual risk behavior was tracked over five time points. Analyses of the data was informed by four objectives: (a) determine if a growth model parameterization was consistent with the youths' sexual risk behavior, (b) assess the impact of a brief intervention (BI) targeting substance use on their sexual risk behavior over time, (c) identify any sexual risk behavior subgroups, and (d) identify any differential, longitudinal effects of the BI on the youths' sexual risk behavior. Results indicated the youths' sexual risk behavior reflected a linear growth model; no intervention effects were found on their sexual risk behavior over time; distinct sexual risk behavior subgroups were found; and no patterned intervention effects were found in regard to the sexual risk behavior subgroups. At the same time, there is a very serious need to provide effective sexual risk reduction intervention services to truant youths.

School truancy among teenagers remains a serious national problem, as evidenced by its significant association with school performance, psychological, and behavioral problems. Truancy is also positively associated with substance abuse. This study presents 18-month outcome data from a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded controlled trial that examined the efficacy of a brief intervention (BI) to reduce marijuana use among truant youths. Adolescents and their parents were randomly assigned to receive either a two-session youth-only session (BI-Y), two-session youth and additional parent session (BI-YP), or standard truancy services (STS). Analyses of an auto-regressive lag model examined marijuana use at three months, six months, 12 months, and 18 months post-intervention. Results indicated adolescents receiving BI services, especially BI-Y services, showed significant reductions in marijuana use, at 18-month follow-up. BI-YP youths showed a greater increase in marijuana use than BI-Y youths. Reasons for this unexpected finding are discussed. Implications of the results for future research and service delivery also are discussed.

Few studies investigating the validity of marijuana use have used samples of truant youths. In the current study, self-reports of marijuana use are compared with urine test results for marijuana to identify marijuana underreporting among adolescents participating in a longitudinal brief intervention for drug-involved truant youths. It was hypothesized that marijuana underreporting would be associated with alcohol underreporting and engaging in sexual risk behaviors. The results indicated marijuana underreporting was significantly associated with self-denial of alcohol use, but not associated with sexual risk behavior. Also, there was an age effect in marijuana use underreporting such that younger truant youths were more likely to underreport marijuana use, compared to older truant youths. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Truant youths frequently experience family problems, emotional/psychological issues, substance misuse, and delinquency. They are likely engaging in alcohol use and sexual risk behavior at a higher rate than the general youth population. Early intervention services would benefit them, their families, and society. We present interim findings from an ongoing, National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded, experimental, brief intervention (BI) study involving truant youths and their parent/guardians. Baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up data were analyzed to determine whether alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors were longitudinally related, to examine the effects of the BI on alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors, to identify subgroups of youths involved in alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors, and to assess the impact of the BI on these subgroups. Results indicated alcohol use and sexual risk were longitudinally related. Limited treatment effects were observed for alcohol use. Implications for future research and service delivery are considered.

Substance use and sexual risk behaviors are common among adolescents, but research has focused attention on alcohol use. Much less is known about the relationship of marijuana use and sexual risk behavior among high-risk, especially truant, youths. We report interim findings from a NIDA-funded experimental, brief intervention (BI) study involving truant youths and their parents/guardians. Longitudinal data were analyzed to study (1) the relationships between the youths' marijuana use and sexual risk behavior and (2) the effects of a substance use BI on their marijuana use and sexual risk behavior. A growth model analysis for parallel processes was conducted to study relationships between marijuana use and sexual risk behavior, and to assess the overall BI effect on linear and quadratic trends in subgroups of youth differing in their sexual risk behavior and marijuana use. Implications of the results for future research and service delivery are considered.

Variations in drug use have been found across individual-level factors and community characteristics, and by type of drug used. Relatively little research, however, has examined this variation among juvenile offenders. Based on a sample of 924 newly arrested juvenile offenders, two multilevel logistic regression models predicting marijuana test result and cocaine test result were separately examined. The results highlighted a strong association between individual-level socio-demographic characteristics, most notably age and seriousness of arrest charge, and drug use. Residential stability was related to cocaine use, yet none of the community variables were related to marijuana use. These findings suggest that different risk factors are related to adolescent marijuana and cocaine use. The research implications of the findings are discussed. (Contains 4 notes, 3 tables and 1 figure.)

This article examines the impact of sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial factors on the probability and frequency of marijuana use and, for youths initiating use, on their frequency of use over four time points. The sample consists of 278 justice-involved youths completing at least one of three follow-up interviews as part of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded study. A two-part growth model was estimated to examine the probability of engaging in marijuana use and change in marijuana frequency of use over time. In addition, covariates for intervention status, gender, age, race, ethnicity, psychological functioning, alcohol use, and self-reported delinquency were included as baseline predictors in the model. The results of our two-part latent growth model reveal (1) a latent tendency to engage in marijuana use and a conditional, continuing decision on frequency of marijuana use, and (2) different patterns of relationships among age, psychosocial variables, and the probability and frequency of marijuana use. Implications for analytical, policy, and intervention service needs are discussed. (Contains 4 tables, 1 figure, and 3 footnotes.)

The authors report the results of latent class analyses and latent class transition analyses of antisocial behavior risk factors among 137 youths participating in a juvenile diversion program. The study examined the youths' latent classifications using baseline and 1-year follow-up measures of family, peer, education, and mental health risk factors. Latent class transition analyses were conducted to determine the stability and change of latent class membership across two time points. For both baseline and follow-up measures, latent class analyses suggested that two latent classes were most appropriate for characterizing the youths using the four domains of risk factors. One class reflected youths reporting few problems in any risk area; the second class reflected youths reporting problems in many of the risk domains. The latent class transition analyses indicated that about two thirds of the youths experienced similar problems over time. The results emphasize the heterogeneity of this study's sample. Policy implications and intervention service needs are discussed. (Contains 2 figures and 3 tables.)

We report the results of an evaluation study of a diversion program, operated by the Miami-Dade County Juvenile Assessment Center in Florida. The Post-Arrest Diversion (PAD) program represents an innovative approach to treatment and intervention within the juvenile justice system that utilizes standardized psychosocial risks and needs assessment to provide individual treatment for first-time, non-violent juvenile offenders. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the PAD program with regard to one-year follow-up recidivism. The sample is comprised of 409 youths (255 male; 154 female) who entered PAD between April and June of 2003. Stepwise, Poisson and OLS regression analyses of the effects of socio-demographic characteristics, type of charges leading to program involvement, recidivism risk level, PAD completion, and arrests while in PAD on the number of recidivism arrests and charges were conducted. The findings suggest that successful completion of PAD significantly reduces recidivism. (Contains 5 tables.)

We report the results of latent growth model analyses examining the continuity of cocaine use among adolescents. This study examined a sample of 278 justice-involved juveniles completing at least one of three follow-up interviews as part of a National Institute on Drug Abuse funded study. Latent growth models were analyzed examining (1) changes in cocaine use over time; (2) the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on cocaine use over time; and (3) the effects of family problem characteristics, deviant peer associations, physical abuse, sexual victimization, and emotional/psychological functioning on cocaine use over time. The results of our analyses indicated that cocaine use among these youths continued over time. Further, consistent with findings from existing literature, cocaine use was significantly related to drug using and delinquent peer associations, and marginally related to family problems with the justice system. Implications for policy and intervention service needs are discussed.

We report the results of a test of a structural model reflecting the longitudinal relationships of psychosocial problems among youths involved in a Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded clinical trial for juveniles that participated in a diversion program. The project is evaluating the efficacy of an intensive 16-week case management service to youths and their families. The present study examines the continuity of (1) psychosocial problems, measured as a latent variable comprising family problems, peer problems, and educational problems, (2) drug involvement, use, and effects, and (3) self-reported delinquency for baseline and approximately 1-year follow-up interview data for 165 and 137 youths, respectively. The results support existing literature indicating that once problem behaviors are established at an early age, they have a strong likelihood of persisting over time. Implications for policy and intervention service needs are discussed.

We report the results of the relationship of lifetime and past year drug involvement to psychosocial functioning among youths entering a Juvenile Arbitration Program (a diversion program) in the 13th Judicial Circuit, who enrolled in a Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded study. The project is a clinical trial evaluating an innovative intervention service providing sixteen weeks of intensive case management services to youths and their families. The present study examines baseline interview data for 165 youths who entered the Juvenile Arbitration Program between June 2002 and July 2003 and agreed to participate in the project. The results indicate that drug involvement is a significant issue among the youths we studied, and is related to functioning problems in a number of key areas of their lives. Indeed, the greater their drug involvement, the more psychosocial problems they report experiencing. These findings contradict public opinion that youths placed in diversion programs have relatively few problems. Policy implications based on these results are discussed.

We report the impact of case management services and youth psychopathic features on twelve-month recidivism rates for youths involved in a Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded clinical trial conducted in a juvenile diversion program. The project is evaluating an innovative intervention service providing 16 weeks of intensive case management services to youths and their families. The present study examines baseline interview data and official arrest/charge records for a twelve-month period following program or intervention completion, whichever came later, for 164 youths who entered a diversion program (Juvenile Arbitration) between June 2002 and July 2003 and agreed to participate in the project. The results indicate that youths receiving case management services did not have lower rates of recidivism during the 12-month follow-up period, than youths receiving the usual Arbitration services. Regardless of service group assignment, psychopathy measures for these youths were significantly and positively associated with recidivism rates during the 12-month follow-up period. Implications for policy and intervention service needs are discussed. (Contains 5 tables.)

We report the impact of case management services on drug use and self-reported delinquency for youths involved in a clinical trial of the Juvenile Arbitration program. The project evaluated an innovative intervention service providing 16 weeks of intensive case management services to youths and their families. The present study examines interview data for 137 youths who agreed to participate in a follow-up interview, conducted approximately 11 months after the baseline interview. The results indicate that youths receiving case management services did not experience significantly lower rates of drug use and related effects during the follow-up period than youths receiving usual services, nor did they experience significantly lower rates of involvement in self-reported delinquency. Psychopathy measures had a significant main effect on self-reported delinquency during the follow-up period, regardless of group assignment. (Contains 7 tables.)

We report the impact of case management services and youth psychopathy on Juvenile Diversion program completion for youths involved in a clinical trial, and evaluation of an innovative intervention service providing 16 weeks of intensive case management services to youths and their families. The present study examines baseline interview data for 164 youths who entered a Juvenile Diversion program between June 2002 and July 2003 and agreed to participate in the project. The results indicate that youths receiving extended case management services had higher rates of completing the Diversion program than youths receiving the usual Diversion program services. However, youths receiving case management services were no more likely to complete the diversion program on time, than youths receiving the usual services. The results also indicate that psychopathy measures do not have a significant effect on program completion, regardless of the type of diversion service. (Contains 6 tables.)

Following a national trend of "getting tough" on increased juvenile crime, the Florida legislature eliminated one of the primary community service-oriented juvenile diversion programs, the Juvenile Alternative Services Program (JASP). JASP was subsequently replaced with four other diversion programs, two of which (the Walker Plan and an expanded Arbitration program) permitted greater penetration into the juvenile justice system. In a previous paper, we examined the impact of net-widening effects of diversion programs on youth participant recidivism for a six-month post-program period resulting from this shift in program funding. The results indicated that youths placed in the JASP program had significantly lower rates of new arrests and new arrest charges than each of the other four diversion programs. One of the consequences of the net-widening effects reported in this previous study could be an increase, rather than decrease, in the direct costs of a number of key justice services. The present study examines this issue by presenting the results of an economic impact analysis focusing on the direct costs incurred by various justice system agencies resulting from the youths' recidivism during the six-month post-program period. Stepwise multiple regression analyses predicting the cumulative cost (adjusted for inflation and overhead expenses) of providing justice services to the youths found that JASP had a lower direct cost rate with respect to the justice system than any of the JASP alternative programs. These findings, combined with those of our previous study, run contrary to one of the major concerns of policy makers: attaining better outcomes among at-risk youth while making the best use of scarce public resources. Theoretical and policy implications based on these results are discussed. (Contains 7 tables and 2 figures.)

Recent Florida legislation changes have resulted in policy modifications reflecting a "get tough" approach to juvenile crime. In 2000, budget cuts by the Florida legislature eliminated one of the state's primary community service-oriented juvenile diversion programs, the Juvenile Alternative Services Program (JASP). JASP was subsequently replaced with other diversion programs, two of which (the Walker Plan and an expanded Arbitration program) permitted greater penetration into the juvenile justice system. This event provided an opportunity for a natural experiment evaluating the impact of potential net-widening effects of these replacement programs compared to those with less justice system contact (JASP and two other diversion programs) on youth participant recidivism. In this study, youth participant recidivism was examined based on new arrests and new arrest charges during an in-program period (from date of program enrollment to exit) and a six-month post-program period. There was no significant difference in in-program recidivism across the five diversion programs. Stepwise multiple regression analyses predicting diversion program recidivism rates for the six-month period following end of program involvement found that youths placed in the JASP program had significantly lower rates of new arrests and new arrest charges than each of the other four diversion programs. Moreover, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tests indicated that the mean rate of new arrests and new arrest charges were significantly lower for JASP than the other programs, which were comparable to each other in magnitude. The findings suggest a potential net-widening effect for the JASP replacement programs. In addition, JASP youths had a longer number of days until a new arrest than youths from the four alternative to JASP programs. Theoretical and policy implications based on these results are discussed. (Contains 10 tables and 4 figures.)

As part of a larger study examining the impact of the "get tough" policy on juvenile crime, we studied the effects of efforts to "get tough" on juvenile participation in diversion programs in Hillsborough County, Florida. Florida legislature budget cuts in 2000 eliminated a primary community service program (JASP), replacing it with programs permitting penetration into the juvenile justice system (the Walker Plan and Intensive Delinquency Diversion Services [IDDS]). This event provided an opportunity for a natural experiment evaluating the impact of these service changes on youth participant outcomes. Differences were found among the diversion programs in regard to involvement. Discriminant analysis indicated the distinctions among the youths reflected primarily a difference between youths completing the program and those failing to complete the program. Stepwise logistic regression analyses predicting diversion program completion found that youths placed in the Walker Plan and in an arbitration program had higher completion rates than those placed in JASP, IDDS and another community-based program. While not providing any clear-cut indication of better program completion rates for JASP, when compared to the other diversion programs, the results suggest that a court- based diversion program, involving case supervision by juvenile probation officers, improves program compliance. (Contains 9 tables.)

Campbell et al. provided a candid summary of a long-term strategic plan to address relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM) at Michigan State University (MSU). Coming in the aftermath of a national scandal and public outcry regarding MSU's lack of response to RVSM on its campus, the authors describe a coordinated university community response to understanding the prevalence of RVSM on campus, developing policy to respond to RVSM, and reestablishing community and survivor trust. In this commentary, we explore the innovations and sustainability of MSU's strategic plan and its potential replicability at other institutions of higher learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies addressing risk factors among justice-involved girls in rural areas remain a neglected area of research. Following an intersectional framework, the current study examines the patterning of a broad range of risk factors and health needs, across urban and rural contexts, among arrested African American, Hispanic, and white females who participated in a public health service. Results from a latent class analysis suggest significant differences in substance use, physical health, depression, and trauma experiences among the racial/ethnic groups and across geographic setting. This study has implications for prevention, screening and assessment procedures of arrested youths, and intervention services in the juvenile justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]