| This thesis discusses risk factors that are of particular concern for gang-affiliated
juveniles in the correctional context. A growing body of research illustrates that juvenile
corrections-involved, gang-affiliated youth differ in their risk and need factors from non-gang-
affiliated youth who are juvenile corrections-involved. However, current juvenile justice
assessments do not differentiate between gang-affiliated and non-gang-affiliated youth. To
address this gap, a quantitative research design was used to compare the Adverse Childhood
Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire and the Youth Level of Service/ Case Management Inventory
(YLS/CMI) scores of a sample of 558 gang-affiliated adolescents and other juvenile corrections-
involved adolescents in the custody of the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections.
Additionally, to accurately assess differences between groups, a within-group comparison of
gang-affiliated males having different levels of gang involvement was conducted. The results
showed that young men having any type of gang affiliation are more likely to be part of a
minority group and to engage in substance abuse. Those juveniles identified as formal/active
gang members had a higher likelihood of family criminal involvement, scored higher on the
family circumstances/parenting subdomain on the YLS/CMI, and had higher overall scores on
the YLS/CMI. Formal/ active gang members were the most likely to have experienced emotional
neglect. The interplay of family-related risk factors and emotional neglect points to a need for
juvenile justice policies that strengthen family relationships, teach social-emotional coping skills
and emphasize peer mentoring as an effective way to reach gang-affiliated youth.
Key Words: juvenile gang member, risk assessments, family criminality, emotional neglect. |