Contextual Forces and Recidivism: Unpacking Environmental Influences on Juvenile Delinquency

• In Event: Beyond Theory Testing: New Applications of Strain, Learning, and Control Mechanisms

Abstract

Peer to peer influence has often been the focus of criminological studies within the learning perspective, specifically studies of Sutherland’s differential association theory and Aker’s social learning theory. However, peer influence was not the only variable theorized to have significant influence in the adoption of delinquent definitions and future engagement in delinquent acts. One factor regularly overlooked in the learning perspective is environmental influences. In his explanation of differential association theory, Sutherland (1947) labels his observation of contextual influences as differential social organization and having significant influence when predicting the outcome of juveniles. Using data of youth leaving diversion, probation, and residential placements from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) released between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2017, this study will examine contextual influences from the learning perspective and have two main foci: 1.) measuring the direct effects of place on the recidivism of Florida delinquents and 2.) if those contextual effects operate through the three social learning mediators: adoption of delinquent definitions, differential reinforcement, and delinquent imitation. Contextual data will be collected from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year tract-level pooled estimates, centered around the year the youths were released from placement.

Authors

• Dequan Cowell, Florida State University

• Sonja Siennick, Florida State University