The heterogeneity of treatment needs for justice-involved girls: a typology using latent class analysis

Current efforts to identify the treatment needs of juveniles typically examine girls as a homogeneous group and recommendations for gender-responsive services tend to generalize needs to all girls. Research on within-girl heterogeneity suggests that this approach is shortsighted as treatment needs v...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cusworth Walker, Sarah (Author)
Contributors: Bishop, Asia S. ; Nurius, Paula S. 1954- ; Logan-Greene, Patricia
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2016
In: Criminal justice and behavior
Year: 2016, Volume: 43, Issue: 3, Pages: 323-342
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Summary:Current efforts to identify the treatment needs of juveniles typically examine girls as a homogeneous group and recommendations for gender-responsive services tend to generalize needs to all girls. Research on within-girl heterogeneity suggests that this approach is shortsighted as treatment needs vary among justice-involved girls; however, little is known about how treatment needs cluster in this population. Consequently, we used latent class analysis to identify treatment needs within a sample of 1,731 female adolescents charged in juvenile court in Washington State. The analysis identified four classes of need representing High Family Conflict and Trauma (20%), Complex Treatment Needs With Antisocial Peers (30%), Low Adverse Experiences With Substance Abuse Needs (38%), and Mental Health Needs With Strong Social Assets (10%). The findings are consistent with other community-based analyses of female treatment needs and distinct from male-oriented treatment recommendations. Implications for policies regarding appropriate services and service capacity for justice-involved girls are discussed.
ISSN:1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/0093854815615162