Demographic Differences in Youth Perceptions of Staff: A National Evaluation of Adjudicated Youth

• Author: Paula J. Fite,Jonathan L. Poquiz,Casey A. Pederson
• Date: 01 August 2021
• Published date: 01 August 2021
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20928027
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Demographic

Differences in Youth

Perceptions of Staff:

A National Evaluation

of Adjudicated Youth

Casey A. Pederson

1

, Paula J. Fite

1

,

and Jonathan L. Poquiz

1,2

Abstract

Despite the large societal and personal cost associated with the detainment of

juvenile offenders in residential facilities, little is known about the factors that con-

tribute to youth behavior while incarcerated. One factor that may be of importance

to maintaining security within facilities and improving rehabilitation efforts is youth’s

perceptions of correctional staff, namely, youth’s perceptions of positive staff char-

acteristics (e.g., friendliness; helpfulness) and staff behavior toward youth (e.g., fair

punishments). Accordingly, the current study used the National Survey of Youth in

Custody across two cohorts to better understand youth perceptions about staff by

examining rates of these perceptions within juvenile detention centers nationwide.

Furthermore, given the overrepresentation of marginalized groups in the justice

system, systematic differences in youth’s perceptions about staff were evaluated

based on demographic characteristics, including age, race, sex, and sexual orienta-

tion, to better understand how these characteristics influence youth perceptions.

Results suggested several significant differences based on demographic character-

istics, with the most prominent and consistent differences associated with race and

age, with Black youth and older youth having the least positive views of staff.

1

University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA

2

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, IL, USA

Corresponding Author:

Casey A. Pederson, Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue,

2006 Dole Human Development Center, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.

Email: caseyapederson@ku.edu

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2021, Vol. 65(10–11) 1143–1163

!The Author(s) 2020

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20928027

journals.sagepub.com/home/ijo

Interestingly, non-heterosexual youth were more likely to view staff characteristics

as positive than heterosexual youth. Implications of findings are discussed.

Keywords

correctional officers, juvenile justice, detention, perceptions of staff, race, sex, sexual

orientation, age

Introduction

Rates of juveniles placed in residential settings in the United States have steadily

decreased since 1997; however, approximately 48,043 youth continue to be

placed in residential facilities due to delinquent offenses (Off‌ice of Juvenile

Justice and Delinquency Prevention [OJJDP], 2018). Youth placed in residential

facilities are more likely to engage in offending behaviors as adults when com-

pared with youth who receive less restrictive sanctions (e.g., probation; commu-

nity service; Gatti et al., 2009); thus, the residential placement of juvenile

offenders is a personally and societally costly intervention for youth that is

likely counterproductive to goals of rehabilitation and reduced offending.

Accordingly, it is important to consider ways in which residential facilities can

better address the needs of youth who are placed there.

Theories of behavioral learning maintain individuals engage in behavior that

is rewarding while refraining from behavior that is punishing (Kazdin, 1997).

Furthermore, learning theory suggests that conditions can be created in which

certain behaviors become more likely (Nosik & Carr, 2015). In fact, successful

interventions resulting in reduction of institutional assault, use of restrictive

housing and restraints, and problem behavior within justice settings (e.g.,

token economies; positive behavioral supports) are predicated on these princi-

ples (Fernandez et al., 2015; Gendreau et al., 2014; Nelson et al., 2009). Within

these evidence-based interventions, supportive interactions between youth and

staff are encouraged (Gendreau et al., 2014; McIntosh et al., 2010), with inter-

actions between youth and staff considered a condition under which behavior

becomes more or less likely. Positive relations with staff may provide youth with

motivation, as positive relationships could serve as a condition that increases the

likelihood that youth will engage in wanted behavior (McMahon & Forehand,

2003/2005; Nosik & Carr, 2015). This is consistent with social ecological theory,

which posits youth behaviors are contextualized within a complex system of

relationships (Bronfenbrenner, 1977; Neal & Neal, 2013). In fact, research has

established that positive relationships result in less problem behavior in a variety

of contexts (e.g., Baker, 2006; McLaughlin & Carr, 2005). Within detention

facilities, youth operate in the context of many relationships, including

1144 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 65(10–11)