Exploring the Relationship Between Prosocial School Bonds and Juvenile Recidivism: A Preliminary Study of Promotive and Protective Effects

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Abstract

Knowledge on the extent and causes of juvenile recidivism is of great importance to
policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. Indeed, an extensive body of research has identified
various factors that predict youth reoffending, such as prior antisocial behavior, early age of
onset, antisocial personality, and associating with delinquent peers. While this work has
enhanced our understanding of why some youth reoffend more than others, far less is known
about factors that may promote desistance among justice-involved youth. Specifically, we have
an incomplete understanding on promotive factors––variables that predict a low probability of
recidivism––and protective factors––variables that influence recidivism by mitigating the effects
of other risk factors––that may foster desistance among higher-risk justice-involved youth. The
current study aims to address this gap by examining the influence of prosocial school bonds on
juvenile recidivism. Using data from a cohort of youth released from juvenile justice supervision,
the study examines two research questions. First, do prosocial school bonds exert promotive
(direct) effects on youth recidivism? And second, do school bonds exert protective effects on
recidivism by mitigating the direct effect of criminal propensity? To this end, the results and their
implications for research and policy will be discussed.

Author

• Jhon A. Pupo, Florida State University