Incarcerated youth who have had multiple contacts with the juvenile justice system are at highest risk for participating in violence as they move through adolescence and into adulthood. Studies have shown that aftercare services that appropriately address the multi-faceted nature of violence committed by these youth substantially lower the risk of recidivism and violence. Since young Latino men are proportionally over represented in juvenile detention and commitment facilities, it is important that providers of aftercare services take the overlay of culture into account when developing programs.
The goal of this exploratory, semi-ethnographic study is two fold: i) describe both barriers and supportive conditions for the successful transition of Latino youth included in the study, and ii) examine the extent of appropriate aftercare services received by these young men. Data are collected through semi-structured interviews of previously incarcerated Latino youth.
Initial qualitative results indicate that delinquent peer groups, delinquent siblings, and homelessness or unstable living situations pose barriers to successful transition for study participants. Study participants who transition successfully report regular school attendance and limiting the number of peers with which they associate. All study participants report limited or no contact with service providers after leaving custody.
This rich qualitative methodology allows analysis of the data to be thoroughly embedded in the context of family, school, peers and the cultural milieu they comprise. It will shed important light on the results of more quantitative studies and contribute to shaping interventions for Latino youth who are at high risk for future violence.
Learning Objectives: Identify three barriers to successful transition from incarceration to community. Describe three characteristics of environments conducive to successful transitions from incarceration to community. Identify four characteristics of culturally appropriate aftercare services for young Latino men transitioning from incarceration to community.
Keywords: Youth Violence, Community Preventive Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.