Second Chance Act: Examining the Moderating Role of Substance Use on the Victimization-Recidivism Relationship

• In Event: Consequences of Victimization: Vicarious Trauma and the Victim-Offender Overlap

Abstract

Juvenile recidivism is an ongoing issue in the United States. Youth with a history of contact with the system and of victimization are more likely to reoffend. To address this issue, the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Programs (OJJDP) created programs, such as the Second Chance Act (SCA), to reduce recidivism and aid juveniles in their reentry back to their communities. Current literature offers evidence of the effectiveness of SCA funded programs but does not explore the relationship between victimization before exposure to programming and subsequent recidivism. Furthermore, much is still unknown about the moderating role of substance use on the association between prior victimization and recidivism. The present study aims to begin to address this gap by examining data from a sample of youth who participated in the OJJDP FY2010 SCA Juvenile Offender Reentry Demonstration Project. Univariate and bivariate analyses are estimated to examine associations between pre-incarceration victimization, substance use, and recidivism. It is hypothesized that pre-incarceration victimization will be positively associated with odds of recidivism and that this association will be strengthened at higher levels of substance use. By identifying these potential precursors, and moderators of, risk for recidivism, this study can help inform SCA reentry intervention strategies.

Authors

• Zoe Janai Hayes, Sam Houston State University

• Eric J. Connolly, Sam Houston State University