Restricting More Than Housing: The Effects of Restrictive Housing on Recidivism Among Juveniles

• In Event: The Many Experiences and Consequences of Incarceration

Abstract

The placement of inmates into restrictive housing--or, more well known as solitary confinement--is a common practice in American jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities. A recent estimate indicates that anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000 inmates in U.S. prisons were in restrictive housing. The evidence of the consequences of restrictive housing is inconclusive, according to Frost and Monteiro (2016), the authors of a recent National Institute of Justice white paper. Even less clear are the consequences of restrictive housing among juveniles. Drawing from a variety of theoretical perspectives, this study examines the effects of restrictive housing on recidivism among juvenile offenders using longitudinal data and a matched samples analytic strategy. Results of the current study will be contrasted against the current state of the literature and will speak to recent policy initiatives surrounding the placement of offenders generally, and juveniles particularly, in restrictive housing.

Authors

• Kendra Clark, University of Colorado Boulder

• David Pyrooz, University of Colorado Boulder