Factors Associated with Recidivism among Adolescents Girls in Conflict with the Law in an Institution in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil

Recidivism is a challenge for the Brazilian socio-educational system because it is associated with personal, social and environmental factors, especially among juvenile offenders. 

This study examined key characteristics and potential association with recidivism in 391 female adolescent offenders from a correctional institution in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, between 2004 and 2011. Cross-sectional data on socio-demographics, drug use and offense characteristics from institutional information were examined. Associate factors with recidivism were examined using negative binomial regression analyses. 32.5% of offenders were recidivists at present admission and the mean frequency of recidivism among recidivists was 2.16. About half (53.6%) of the sample reported drug use. 

After the adjustment, recidivism was positively associated with: age; offender's drug use; residence status; offense type; and no family drug use. Factors associated with juvenile offenders' recidivism confirm findings from elsewhere, and should inform targeted interventions in Brazil.

Select socio-demographic, drug use and offense characteristics of female adolescent offenders (n = 284). Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, 2004-2011. 

Characteristic	Frequency (n = 284)	%
Age (years)
≤ 15	99	39.4
16	80	28.2
17	96	33.8
18	9	3.2
Type of offence
Robbery/Attempted robbery	116	40.8
Theft	20	7.0
Drug dealing/Possession	74	26.1
Attempt against life	28	9.9
Threat and extortion	14	4.9
Bodily injury/Fight/Contempt	12	4.2
Other	20	7.0
Offender drug use
No	134	47.2
Yes	150	52.8
Family drug use
No	215	75.7
Yes	69	24.3
Attending school at the time of detention
No	185	65.1
Yes	99	34.9
Residence status
Parents/Other relatives	198	30.3
On her own	86	69.7

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/7QsiAm

By:  Gallassi AD1, Santos SL1, Santos VD1, Nakano EY2, Fischer B3, Galinkin AL4, Wagner GA5.

• 1Faculdade de Ceilândia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil.
• 2Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil.
• 3Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
• 4Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil.
• 5Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
• Cad Saude Publica. 2015 Dec;31(12):2569-76. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00171014. 

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