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Emerging adulthood in prison: the analysis of criminal risk factors
Fri, September 8, 4:30 to 5:45pm, Educatorio Fuligno, Floor: first floor / cloister entrance, Fuligno 7Abstract
Criminal justice systems traditionally differentiate between juvenile (under 18) and adult (above 18 years old) offenders. Although there are similarities between adult and juvenile judicial processes, there are also key distinctions in treatment of the two groups (Garcia, 2022). Research consistently indicates the existence of factors (biological, psychological and social) that make juvenile offenders different from adult offenders (Kelly, 2011). However, the 18th birthday in industrialized societies actually does not bring the sense of being an adult, as people between the age of 18–24 are in exploration of their identity, trying out various life possibilities (Arnet, 2000), therefore prone to risky and dangerous behaviours (Salvatore, 2018). This is why international juvenile justice standards (Recommendation CM/Rec 2008(11)) and many scholars (e.g., Dünkel, & Geng, 2019; Schmidt, Rap, & Liefaard, 2021) encourage the extension of the special features of juvenile criminal responsibility to young adults. On the other hand, the age of desistance from crime clusters on average from the late 20s to early 30s (Eggleston, & Doherty, 2019). Therefore, the necessity of the more precise understanding of and tailored responses towards the crime and re-socialization of emerging adults is assumed. The presentation will draw on the study aimed at examining the characteristics of 80 young adult offenders, serving their custodial sentences in 4 prisons (1 juvenile correctional facility and 3 adult prisons) in Lithuania. This study compared indicators of criminal history, vulnerabilities increasing and strengths reducing the risk of re-offending, internalizing and externalizing behaviour, and identity formation aspects between different age groups of young adults (18-20 years and 21-23 years old) as well as between groups of offenders serving their sentences in different custodial establishments. The talk will conclude by discussing the results of the study and providing practical implications for imprisonment conditions and correctional treatment of emerging adults.