Crimbrary

Studying Deterrence Among High-Risk Adolescents
"...In this bulletin, the authors consider - based on their review of recent evidence from the Pathways to Desistance study, a multisite, longitudinal sample of adolescent (primarily felony) offenders... several questions regarding how juvenile offenders assess sanctions and the threat of sanctions.  Unlike most other research on serious adolescent offenders, the Pathways study draws from both interviews and official records from adolescence and early adulthood.  The authors examine several questions related to deterring juveniles:

• Do their offending and punishment experiences mold offenders' perceptions of risks and consequences of offending (which relate directly to their propensity to be deterred from crimes)?
• Does placing offenders in a correctional facility have any tangible deterrent effects?
• Does longer placement have a more deterrent effect on juveniles?

The authors conclude with a discussion of directions for future applied research into deterrence and consider some broader implications for juvenile justice policy and practice."