Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Evaristus O. Obinyan

Abstract

Recidivism, especially juvenile recidivism, has been a major concern for the United States. In fact, 10.6% of the total U.S. population was composed of juveniles between the ages of 10 and 17 in the year 2009. The statistics have shown that juvenile recidivism is one of the key issues in the country that needs to be addressed. The purpose of this study was to isolate the youth programs that affect juvenile recidivism beyond their successful completion. The theoretical foundation of the study derived from Agnew’s general strain theory, which suggests focusing on factors that lead to delinquency and the commission of a crime. The research questions of the study focused on understanding the relationship between sanctioned programs and their impact on juvenile recidivism. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed through the use of secondary data, which provided inputs and outputs of juvenile justice programs in the state of Florida. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, a t-test analysis of variance, and an abbreviated ANOVA were applied. There were no statistically significant differences in the overall quality of court-ordered sanctions that affect juvenile recidivism beyond probation. The findings suggest that among the seven different programs scrutinized for this study, the strategies of education, multisystematic therapy, multidimensional family therapy, and functional family therapy for the offenders to reduce recidivism should be part of the juvenile justice system. Findings can lead to positive social change by informing juvenile justice practitioners and policymakers about the importance of motivation as an effective tool to affect juvenile recidivism beyond the completion of sanctioned programs.

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