Early Versus Late Contact with the Youth Justice System: Differences in Characteristics Measured at Birth, Child Protection System Contact and Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes
Date
2021
Authors
Magann, Michaela
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Thesis
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
Early contact with the youth justice (YJ) system leads to poorer health, wellbeing and
recidivism. However, there is little known about how early versus late YJ contact (i.e., before
age 14 versus age 14 or older) influences YJ contact patterns, or whether early life
circumstances and associated outcomes differ by early versus late YJ contact. This study uses
whole-of-population linked data to examine differences between young people who have early
versus late YJ system contact. Data were from the Better Evidence Better Outcomes Linked
Data (BEBOLD) platform including children in South Australia born 1991-1998, followed
from birth to age 18 (n=169,172), of which 1.9% had YJ contact. Compared to the late contact
group, young people with early YJ contact had: more serious YJ contact patterns (e.g., 91%
versus 59% ever experienced custodial supervision); were more disadvantaged at birth (e.g.,
63% versus 44% born into jobless families); had more serious child protection contact by age
10 (e.g., 40% versus 27% had experienced out-of-home care); and experienced more mental
health-related hospitalisations from ages 12-18 (e.g., 48% versus 35%). This analysis
demonstrates the complex circumstances that precede and co-occur with YJ involvement and
point to the need for investment in early supports.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (M.Psych(Clinical)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2021
Provenance
This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses.
Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the author of this thesis and do not wish it to be made publicly available, or you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals
Description
This item is only available electronically.