1. High Risk Juvenile Males
Aaron Swift
Counselling Psychologist
Irish Prison Service

2. Current Position in Ireland
Most Juveniles Held in Detention Centres under the Youth Justice Board.
16-18 Year Olds Held in Prison System in a year old facility
Plans to integrate
Development of Systems

3. Prison Population In Ireland
Total In Custody 3700
Total Under
Total
St Patrick’s Total Population 217
16-18 Sentences Range 1 Month-Life

4. Overview Developmental Pathways for High Risk Juvenile Offenders
Risk Measurement
Successful Intervention
Characteristics of Incarcerated Youth
Implications for Intervention

5. Juvenile Context Some Anti Social Behaviour Normal
Small Percentage of Significant Offenders
50% of Traced Crime committed by under 21
20% Sexual Assaults against Adults
30-50% Sexual Assaults Against Children

6. Sutton, Utting and Farrington 2006
15% of 5 Year Olds in the UK demonstrate defiant and oppositional behaviour.
Every 3 years 20% leave this category and 10% join it.
Between 5 and 8 20% of these children leave this category and 10% Join it.
Decreasing in 3 Year Cycles until 50% of Original number are rated as anti-social at 17.

7. Sutton, Utting and Farrington 2006
Almost all anti social adults were anti social children
Most anti social children do not go on to be antisocial adults

8. Sutton, Utting and Farrington 2006
Pregnancy
Neglected Neighbourhood, Low Income, Poor Housing
Stress in Pregnancy, Teenage Pregnancy, Smoking

9. Sutton, Utting and Farrington 2006
0-2 Years
Socio Economic Stress
Postnatal Depression, Harsh Parenting Style, Rejection, Hitting/Frequent Smacking, Low Level of Stimulation

10. Sutton, Utting and Farrington 2006
3-8
Low Achievement in Primary School, Behaviour Problems/Bullying, School Disorganisation

11. Sutton, Utting and Farrington 2006
9-13
Low Informal Social Control
Truancy
Having a convicted Parent at age 10

12. Risk Responsivity Low Level Intervention Intensive Intervention
Low Risk Offender
Good Outcome
Possible Increase in Risk
High Risk Offender
Risk Not Managed

13. Risk Tools Are Juvenile Specific Based on Sound Evidence
Indicates Risk
Targets Treatment/Intervention

14. Risk Structure Historical/Static Factors Dynamic Factors
What We Can’t Change
Good Predictors of Risk
Dynamic Factors
What we Can Change
Predictors of Risk
Intervention Targets

15. Structured Assessment of the Risk of Violence in Youth (SAVRY)
Risk of Violence in Juveniles over 12 years old
Assess Risk under 4 Headings
Historical Factors
Social/Contextual Risk Factors
Individual Risk Factors/Clinical Risk Factors
Protective Factors

16. SAVRY (Bartel, Borum, & Forth 2000)
Historical Factors
History of Violence
History of Non-Violent Offending
Early Initiation of Violence
Past Supervision Failures
History of Self Harm or Suicide Attempts
Exposure to Violence in the Home
Childhood History of Maltreatment
Parental/Caregiver Criminality
Poor School Achievement

17. SAVRY (Bartel, Borum, & Forth 2000)
Social/Contextual Risk Factors
Peer Delinquency
Peer Rejection
Stress and Poor Coping
Poor Parental Management
Lack of Personal/Social Support
Community Disorganisation

18. SAVRY (Bartel, Borum, & Forth 2000)
Individual Risk Factors/Clinical Risk Factors
Negative Attitudes
Risk Taking/Impulsivity
Substance-use Difficulties
Anger Management Problems
Psychopathic Traits
Attention deficit/hyperactivity difficulties
Poor Compliance
Low Interest/Commitment to School

19. SAVRY (Bartel, Borum, & Forth 2000)
Protective Factors
Prosocial Involvement
Strong Social Support
Strong Attachment and Bonds
Positive Attitude Toward Intervention and Authority
Strong Commitment to School
Resilient Personality Traits

20. Risk of Violence
SAVRY, Bartel, Borum and Firth, 2000
PCL-R(YV), Hare
Violence Prediction in Under 12’s
EARL-20B, Augimeri et al 2001
Sexual Offending
AIM-2, Print et al 2001
ERASOR,Worling and Curwen 2001
General Offending
LSI-R, Andrews and Bonta, 1995
LSI-CMI, Hodge and Andrews, 1995

21. Addressing Offending Behaviour: What works
Influencing behaviour through relationships.
Positive role models (honest, open, reliable)

22. What Works Programs that:
Develop Skills – employment, relationships, recreation etc.
Address thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.

23. Dowden and Andrews 1999
conducted a meta analysis of 229 tests of effectiveness of juvenile offender intervention studies.

24. Dowden and Andrews 1999 What are Effect Sizes
If Baseline Recidivism = 55%
a Effect Size of +10 means a recidivism rate of 45% for target group.
-10 Effect Size would equal 65%

25. Effect Sizes varied between -.43 to +.83
Criminal Justice Sanctions Alone -.2
Human Service Programs Overall +.13

26. Criminogenic Needs

27. Non Crimnogenic Needs

28. Mental Health Hayes and O’Rielly 2006
83% Have a Significant Mental Health Issue.
16.5% in General Population
60% in Mental Health Population

29. Hayes and O’Rielly 2006 20% Separation Anxiety Disorder
17.2% Motor / Transient Tic Disorder
10.2% Generalised Anxiety Disorder
6.7% Social Phobia
6.9% Major Depression
7.1% mania / hypomania (Bipolar Disorder)

30. Remand Young Offenders %
Sentenced Young Offenders %
Private household %
Est. No’s St Pats.
Mixed Anxiety/Depressive Disorder 26 21 -
Generalised Anxiety Disorder 5 7
9 - 12
Depressive Episode 12 9
Phobias 8
9 - 14
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 14
Panic Disorder 4 2
3-7
Any Neurotic Disorder 52 42

31. Mental Health Suicidality
Currently experiencing thoughts of suicide 18.5%
Past Suicide Attempt 18.5%
Hayes and O’Rielly 2006

32. Rem
Sent
Est Pa
Suicidal Thoughts
Past Week 10 7
12-18
Past Year 30 21
37-54
Lifetime 38 28
50-68
Suicide Attempts 3 1
1-3 17 12
21-30 20 16
28-36
Self Harm during current prison term. 11
5-19

33. Developmental Issues
Childhood and Adolescence is a Period Of Development.
Cognitive Ability, Interpersonal Skills, Physical, Sexual, Role, Emotions, etc
All Development is Based on Previous Development.

34. Developmental Issues Developing Abilities are not always even.
E.g. High I.Q. Does not Equal High Social Ability

35. Developmental Issues
Incarceration Potential for Positive and Negative.
+. Appropriate Adult Role Models, Education, Improved Diet, Structure, Professional Intervention.
-. Bullying, Self Harm, Drugs, Criminal Culture, Labelling, Loss of Family, Artificial Environment.

36. Developmental Issues
Empathy= Emotional Awareness, Abstract Reasoning, Perspective Taking.
Anger Control= Emotional Awareness, Complex Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Self Control.

37. Intervention

38. Working in Smaller Jurisdictions
Intervention for Sexualised Offending
10 Individuals
Varying Intellectual Functioning
Varying Risk
Differing Levels of Motivation
16-20
Mental Health Issues
Some Co Accused
Group ?

39. Summary Juvenile Offender Vary in Risk
Crimnogenic Factors are Predictors of Risk
Targeting Criminogenic Factors Produces Best Effect Sizes
Assessment Should Inform Intervention
Intervention Must Take Account of Developmental Level and Mental Health Needs