Poster Session #2: UC South Ballroom
JUVENILE OFFENDERS: COMPARING RURAL AND URBAN YOUTH IN MONTANA
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Timothy Conley
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Social Work
Abstract / Artist's Statement
This study utilizes information from the Office of Court Administrator, State of Montana, on juvenile probationers. It is a secondary analysis of existing data gathered in the summer of 2010. Exploratory research sought to determine if there were significant differences between urban and rural Montanan youth who were on probation in Fiscal Year 2009. For the purpose of this study, an urban/rural variable was created and added to the existing data set. Urban youth were defined as coming from districts that include a city with 30,500 or more residents; rural youth were defined coming from districts with cities of less than 30,500. To date, this analysis is the only formal research comparing urban/rural differences for juveniles on probation in Montana. Results indicated that urban youth are more likely to recidivate, have a higher risk level according the Back on Track risk assessment instrument and are more likely to have a ticket for a drug related crime. Rural youth are more likely to be on informal probation, engage in criminal mischief, and have a mental health diagnosis. This information can be used by probation officers, social service programs, and the State of Montana to better understand differing risk levels in urban versus rural areas.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS: COMPARING RURAL AND URBAN YOUTH IN MONTANA
UC South Ballroom
This study utilizes information from the Office of Court Administrator, State of Montana, on juvenile probationers. It is a secondary analysis of existing data gathered in the summer of 2010. Exploratory research sought to determine if there were significant differences between urban and rural Montanan youth who were on probation in Fiscal Year 2009. For the purpose of this study, an urban/rural variable was created and added to the existing data set. Urban youth were defined as coming from districts that include a city with 30,500 or more residents; rural youth were defined coming from districts with cities of less than 30,500. To date, this analysis is the only formal research comparing urban/rural differences for juveniles on probation in Montana. Results indicated that urban youth are more likely to recidivate, have a higher risk level according the Back on Track risk assessment instrument and are more likely to have a ticket for a drug related crime. Rural youth are more likely to be on informal probation, engage in criminal mischief, and have a mental health diagnosis. This information can be used by probation officers, social service programs, and the State of Montana to better understand differing risk levels in urban versus rural areas.