The Effect of Concentrated Disadvantage on Juvenile Recidivism: Variation by Race, Economic Capital, and Operationalization of Recidivism

• In Event: Substantive Implications of Variation in Official Measures of Juvenile Recidivism

Abstract

Although the effects of concentrated disadvantage on recidivism rates have been studied extensively, the research results remain mixed and suggest small effects overall. Recently, research has begun to not only reexamine how we define the most important measures (concentrated disadvantage, recidivism, etc.), but also to identify major issues that potentially contribute to the inconsistency within the literature (Jacobs et al. 2021, Jacobs et al. 2020). This study aims to expand on these recent developments, specifically by assessing the effects of concentrated disadvantage through two research questions: 1.) Whether the effects of concentrated disadvantage on recidivism are moderated by socioeconomic factors such as race and economic capital, and 2.) Whether how we measure recidivism significantly changes the results and conclusions drawn from the study. Using data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, this study seeks to expand the literature on the relationship between concentrated disadvantage and recidivism and has implications for how we define recidivism in the future, and for the broader effects of measurement decisions. Due to the overwhelming number of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who come into contact with the justice system, this study also has broad implications for theory, policy, and future research.

Authors

• Dequan Jordan Cowell, Florida State University

• Brian Stults, Florida State University

• Sonja Siennick, Florida State University