Skip to main content

Transitions in the Lives of Incarcerated Youth

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Incarcerated Youth Transitioning Back to the Community

Abstract

For young people who receive a custodial sanction as a consequence for offending, there are multiple transitions—changes of habitus, as they enter the custodial environment, reside, and exit back to the community. The impact of these transitions on the development and well-being of the young person can be significant. This chapter begins with a discussion of youthful offending. The vulnerabilities of youths who receive a custodial sanction are then outlined, highlighting the need for effective transition planning and programs to support their return to the community. The right to a well-supported transition is positioned in light of international agreements and is followed by an overview of contemporary reentry/transition programs and models. The chapter concludes with a rationale for why the Taxonomy for Transition Programming 2.0 is well-suited to incarcerated youth transitioning from secure settings back to the community.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Altschuler, D. M., & Armstrong, T. L. (1994). Intensive aftercare for high-risk juveniles: A community care model. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altschuler, D., & Bilchik, S. (2014). Critical elements if juvenile re-entry in research and practice. Retrieved from: https://csgjusticecenter.org/youth/posts/critical-elements-of-juvenile-reentry-in-research-and-practice/.

  • Altschuler, D. M., & Brash, R. (2004). Adolescent and teenage offenders confronting the challenges and opportunities of reentry. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 2(1), 72–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anthony, E. K., Samples, M. D., deKervor, D. N., Ituarte, S., Lee, C., & Austin, M. J. (2010). Coming back home: The reintegration of formerly incarcerated youth with service implications. Children and Youth Services, 32, 1271–1277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (March 2017). Youth justice in Australia 2015–16. Bulletin 139. Retrieved from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/b85be60c-9fef-436d-85df-82d8e5c5f566/20705.pdf.aspx?inline=true.

  • Baer, R. M., & Flexer, R. W. (2013). A framework for positive outcomes. In R. W. Flexer, R. M. Baer P. Luft, & T. J. Simmons (Eds.), Transition planning for secondary students with disabilities (4th ed., pp. 3–21). Upper Saddle River: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baglivio, M. L., Jackowski, K., Greenwald, M. A., & Wolff, K. T. (2014). Comparison of multisystemic therapy and functional family therapy effectiveness. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41, 1033–1056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltodano, H. M., Mathur, S. R., & Rutherford, R. B. (2005). Transition of incarcerated youth with disabilities across systems and into adulthood. Exceptionality, 73(2), 103–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, W. H. (2006). Incorporating the strengths perspective into intensive juvenile justice aftercare. Western Criminology Review, 7(2), 48–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bäckman, O., Estrada, F., Nilsson, A., & Shannon, D. (2014). The life course of young male and female offenders: Stability of change between different birth cohorts. British Journal of Criminology, 53, 393–410. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azu0007.

  • Bochenek, M. G. (2016). Children behind bars: The global overuse of detention of children. Retrieved from: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2016/children-behind-bars.

  • Borum, R., Bartel, P., & Forth, A. (2002). Manual for the Structured Assessment for Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY); Consultation report. Tampa, FL: Florida mental Health Institute, University of South Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouffard, J. A., & Bergseth, K. J. (2008). The impact of reentry services on juvenile offenders’ recidivism. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 6, 295–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bullis, M., Yovanoff, P., & Havel, E. (2004). The importance of getting started right: further examination of the facility-to-community transition of formerly incarcerated youth. Journal of Special Education, 38, 80–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, R. H. (2016). Young people: Crime and justice (2nd ed.). Abingdon, England: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calleja, N. G., Dadah, A. M., Fisher, J., & Fernandez, M. (2014). Reducing juvenile recidivism through specialized re-entry services: A Second Chance Act project. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 5(2), 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christle, C. A., Jolivette, K., & Nelson, C. M. (2005). Breaking the school to prison pipeline: Identifying school risk and protective factors for youth delinquency. Exceptionality, 13(2), 69–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cossy, L. S., & Miller, L. T. (2013). A descriptive study of primary health care practices in Ontario’s youth custody facilities. Paediatrics and Child Health, 18, 523–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cumming, T. M., Strnadová, I., & O’Neill, S. C. (2018). Transition planning processes for young people serving custodial sentences in New South wales, Australia. Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/jsi.2018.1.

  • Dishion, T. J., & Patterson, G. R. (2006). The development and ecology of antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. In D. Cicchetti & D. J. Cohen (Eds.). Developmental psychopathology, (Vol. 3, 2nd ed., pp. 505–541).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubow, E. F., Huesmann, L. R., Boxer, P., & Smith, C. (2014). Childhood predictors and age 48 outcomes of self-reports and official records of offending. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 24, 291–304. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.1929.

  • Elliot, D. S., Ageton, S. S., & Canter, R. J. (1979). An integrated theoretical perspective on delinquent behaviour. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 16, 3–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, D. S., & Voss, H. L. (1974). Delinquency and dropout. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, D. P., Piquero, A. R., & Jennings, W. G. (2013). Offending from childhood to late middle age: Recent results from the Cambridge study in delinquent development. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gagnon, J. C., & Barber, B. (2010). Characteristics of and services provided to youth in secure care facilities. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 7–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/019874291003600102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garfinkel, L. (2010). Improving family involvement for juvenile offenders with emotional/behavioral disorder and related disabilities. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 52–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gisin, D., Haller, D. M., Cerutti, B., Wolff, H., Bertrand, D., Sebo, P., et al. (2012). Mental health of young offenders in Switzerland: Recognizing psychiatric symptoms during detention. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 19, 332–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldson, B. (2010). The sleep of (criminological) reason: Knowledge—policy rupture and New Labour’s youth justice legacy. Criminology & Correctional Justice, 10, 155–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottredson, M., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grasso, D. J., Ford, J. D., & Briggs-Gowan, M. J. (2013). Early life trauma exposure and stress sensitivity in young children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 38, 94–103. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jss101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griller Clark, H. G., & Mathur, S. R. (2015). Merging Two Worlds: A tier two model to promote transition of youth in residential settings to the community. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 32, 280–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griller Clark, H., Mathur, S. R., Brock, L., O’Cummings, M., & Milligan, D. (2016). Transition toolkit 3.0: Meeting the educational needs of youth exposed to the juvenile justice system. Washington, DC: National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk (NDTAC).

    Google Scholar 

  • Griller Clark, H., & Unruh, D. (2010). Transition practices for adjudicated youth with E/BDs and related disabilities. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 43–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagan, J., & McCarthy, B. (2005). Homeless youth and the perilous passage to adulthood. In D. W. Osgood, E. M. Foster, C. Flanagan, & G. R. Ruth (Eds.), On your own without a net: The transition to adulthood for vulnerable populations. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazel, N., Goodfellow, P., Liddle, M., Bateman, T., & Pitts, J. (2017). ‘Now all I care about is my future’. Supporting the shift: framework for the resettlement of young people leaving custody. London, England: Beyond Youth Custody.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herz, D., Lee, P., Lutz, L., Stewart, M., Tuell, J., & Wiig, J. (2012). Addressing the needs of multi-system youth: Strengthening the connection between child welfare and juvenile justice. Retrieved from Center for Juvenile Justice Reform: http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/MultiSystemYouth_March2012.pdf.

  • Hoge, R. D., & Andrews, D. A. (2011). YLS/CMI 2.0: Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory 2.0. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, B. M. (2013). The Missouri Model: A critical state of knowledge. In R. J. Bonnie, R. L. Johnson, B. M. Chemers, & J. A. Schuck (Eds.), Reforming juvenile justice: A developmental approach. Washington, DC: The National Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Indig, D., Vecchiato, C., Haysom, L., Beilby, R., Carter, J., Champion, U., et al. (2011). 2009 NSW young people in custody health survey: Full report. Matraville, Australia: Justice Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jolliffe, D., Farrington, D. P., Piquero, A. R., Loeber, R., & Hill, K. G. (2017). Systematic review of early risk factors for life-course persistent, adolescent-limited, and late-onset offenders in prospective longitudinal studies. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 33, 15–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, P. D., Gothberg, J. E., Fowler, C., & Coyle, J. (2016). Taxonomy for transition programming 2.0: A model for planning, organizing, and evaluating transition education, services, and programs. Kalamazoo, MI: Western Michigan University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambie, I., & Randell, I. (2013). The impact of incarceration on juvenile offenders. Clinical Psychological Review, 33, 448–459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2013.01.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lattimore, P. K., Barrick, K., Cowell, A., Dawes, D., Steffey, D., … Visher, C. A. (2012). Prisoner reentry services: What worked for SVORI evaluation participants? Final Report. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lattimore, P. K., & Visher, C. A. (2009). The multi-site evaluation of SVORI: Summary and synthesis. NC, USA: Research Triangle Park, RTI International and the Urban Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lattimore, P. K., Visher, C. A., Winterfield, L., Lindquist, C., & Brumbaugh, S. (2005). Implementation of prisoner reentry programs: Findings from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative multisite evaluation. Justice Research and Policy, 72(2), 87–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lennox, C. (2014). The health needs of young people in prison. British Medical Bulletin, 112, 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldu028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathur, S., & Griller Clark, H. G. (2014). Community engagement for reentry success of youth from juvenile justice: Challenges and opportunities. Education & Treatment of Children, 37, 713–734.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuura, N., Hashimoto, T., & Toichi, M. (2008). Survey of the childhood behavioral difficulties in normative high school students and inmates of juvenile training facilities—using attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder—Youth Self Report (AD/HD-YSR). Japanese Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49, 583–598. (In Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzotti, V. L., Test, D. W., & Mustian, A. L. (2014). Secondary transition evidence-based practices and predictors: Implications for policymakers. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 25, 5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendel, R. A. (2010). The Missouri model: Reinventing the practice of rehabilitating youthful offenders. Retrieved from The Anne Casey Foundation: http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-MissouriModelFullreport-2010.pdf.

  • Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency. (2011). Michigan youth re-entry model. Retrieved from: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/Michigan_Youth_Re-entry_Model_420255_7.pdf.

  • Moffitt, T. E. (1993). Adolescent-limited and life-course persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy. Psychological Review, 100, 674–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulvey, E. P. (2011). Highlights from Pathway to Desistence Study: A longitudinal study of serious adolescent offenders. Washington, DC: U.S. department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, S. C., Strnadová, I., & Cumming, T. M. (2016). How Juvenile Justice and Education support the transition of school-aged youth from within a custodial environment to the community: Lessons to be learned and celebrations to share. Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Education, NSW Department of Juvenile Justice. ISBN 978-0-947162-02-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osgood, W., Foster, E. M., & Courtney, M. E. (2010). Vulnerable populations and the transition to adulthood. Future of Children, 20, 209–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, H., Scott, W., Meadows, P., Boswell, G., & McSweeney, T. (2012). Evaluation of the London Youth Reducing Reoffending Programme (Daedalus): Final report. London: Ipsos MORI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulkkinen, L., Lyyra, A., & Kokko, K. (2009). Life successes of males on nonoffender, adolescence-limited, persistent and adult-onset antisocial pathways: Follow-up from age 8 to 42. Aggressive Behavior, 35, 117–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, M. M., Rutherford, R. B., Leone, P. E., Osher, D. M., & Poirer, J. M. (2005). Youth with disabilities in juvenile corrections: A national survey. Exceptonal Children, 71, 339–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Restivo, E., & Lanier, M. M. (2015). Measuring the contextual effects and mitigating factors of labeling theory. Justice Quarterly, 32, 116–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Risler, E., & O’Rourke, T. (2009). Thinking exit at entry: Exploring outcomes of Georgia’s juvenile justice educational programs. Journal of Correctional Education, 60, 225–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sailas, E. S., Feodoroff, B., Virkkunen, M., & Wahlbeck, K. (2005). Mental disorders in prison populations aged 15-21: National register study of two cohorts in Finland. British Medical Journal, 330(7504), 1364–1365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R. J., & Laub, J. H. (1993). Crime in the making: Pathways and turning points through life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R., & Laub, J. (2005). A life-course view of the development of crime. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 602, 12–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sedlak, A. J., & McPherson, K. (2010). Survey of youth in residential placement: Youth’s needs and services. Rockville, MD: Westat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharlein, J. (2016). Beyond recidivism: Investigating comparative educational and employment outcomes for adolescents in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Crime and Delinquency, 64, 26–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128716678193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snow, P., & Powell, M. (2011). Oral language competence in incarcerated young offenders: Links with offending severity. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 13, 480–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Statistics of Canada. (2017). Youth correctional statistics in Canada, 2015/2016. Retrieved from: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2017001/article/14702-eng.htm.

  • Ståhlberg, O., Anckarsäter, H., & Nilsson, T. (2010). Mental health problems in youths committed to juvenile institutions: Prevalences and treatment needs. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 19, 893–903.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (2008). A social neuroscience perspective on adolescent risk-taking. Developmental Review, 28(1), 78–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ten Brummelaar, M. (2016). Space between the borders? The participation of young people in decision-making during their stay in secure residential care. [Groningen]: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. Retrieved from: http://www.rug.nl/research/portal/publications/space-between-the-borders(918a95f0-75ea-4ffe-b30c-650dd070e846).html.

  • Thornberry, T. P., & Krohn, M. D. (2003). The development of panel studies if delinquency. In T. P. Thornberry & M. D. Krohn (Eds.), In Taking stock of delinquency: An overview of findings from contemporary longitudinal studies. New York: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, L. A., & Washington, A. (2016). Mental illness and juvenile offenders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(2), 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (1985). Standard minimum rules for the administration of juvenile justice (The Beijing Rules). Retrieved from: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/beijingrules.pdf.

  • United Nations. (1989). Convention on the rights of the child. Retrieved from: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx.

  • United Nations. (1990). United Nations rules for the protection of juveniles deprived of their liberty (The Havana Rules). Retrieved from: http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/45/a45r113.htm.

  • United Nations. (2006). Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html.

  • Unruh, D., Waintrup, M., & Canter, T. (2010). Project STAY OUT: A facility-to-community transition intervention targeting incarcerated adolescent offenders. In D. Cheney (Ed.), Transition of secondary students with emotional and behavioral disorders (2nd ed., pp. 347–374). Champaign, IL: Research Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veysey, B. M., Ostermann, M., & Lanterman, J. L. (2014). The effectiveness of enhanced parole supervision and community services. The Prison Journal, 94, 435–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weibush, R. G., Wagner, D., McNulty, B., Wang, Y., & Le, T. N. (2005). Implementation and outcome evaluation of the Intensive Aftercare Program: Final report. Washington, DC: National Council of Crime and Delinquency.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, R. (2003). Youth offending in relation to young people as multiple service users: Scoping paper. Retrieved from: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/2003-03-white.pdf.

  • Youth Justice Board/Ministry of Justice. (2017). Youth justice statistics 2015/16: England and Wales. Retrieved from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/585897/youth-justice-statistics-2015-2016.pdf.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sue C. O’Neill .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

O’Neill, S.C. (2018). Transitions in the Lives of Incarcerated Youth. In: O’Neill, S. (eds) Incarcerated Youth Transitioning Back to the Community. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0752-2_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0752-2_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0751-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0752-2

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics