Christopher Salvatore

Recently Arrested Adolescents are at High Risk for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Background: Adolescent offenders may be at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). With previous research and interventions focused on incarcerated adolescents, data are needed on STD prevalence and risk factors among newly arrested youth released to the community, a far larger subgroup. Methods: Participants were recruited from all arrested youth processed at the Hillsborough County, Florida Juvenile Assessment Center during the last half of 2006 (506 males, 442 females). Participants voluntarily providing urine samples for drug testing as part of standard protocol were also consented to having their specimens split and tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea, using an FDA-approved nucleic acid amplification test. Results: STD prevalence was similar to those previously reported among incarcerated adolescents: 11.5% tested positive for chlamydia, 4.2% for gonorrhea, and 13.2% for either or both infections. Prevalence was significantly higher among females: 19.2% of females had either or both infections compared with 10.5% of males. Prevalence was higher for 17 to 18 year olds (15.2% of males, 25.5% of females), blacks, detained youths, drug users, and those engaged in sexual risk behaviors. Previous STD testing experience was limited. Conclusions: The study indicated that a voluntary STD screening protocol is feasible for arrested youth entering the juvenile justice system, and these offenders are at high risk for STDs. Because most arrested youths are released back to the community, routine testing and treatment of recently arrested youths, and expanded access to risk reduction and prevention programs, can yield substantial public health benefits.

Do Social Bonds Matter for Emerging Adults

The extent to which social bonds and turning points influence criminal activity has been the focus of much empirical research. However, there have been few empirical studies exploring social bonds and turning points and offending for those who have experienced emerging adulthood, a recently identified stage of the life course. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health we examined if indicators of social bonds and turning points were predictors of criminal offending. Several of the turning points and social bonds included in these analyses were found to influence decreases in criminal offending for a cohort of emerging adults. We extend previous research by examining the influence of social bonds and turning points on patterns of criminal offending during emerging adulthood.

Do Life Course Transitions and Social Bonds Influence Male and Female Offending Differently? Gender Contrasts and Criminality

A longstanding issue facing criminologists is the challenge of developing theoretical models that provide comprehensive explanations of the onset and persistence of criminality among males and females. One promising perspective that has developed in recent years has been life course theory. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this research explores the question of whether the elements of social development shape the trajectory of persistent offending in a gender-neutral fashion, or are the dynamics shaping life course criminality unique for males and females. The results provide a number of useful insights into the relationship between gender, life course transition factors, and longitudinal patterns of criminality.

Evaluation of a Criminal Justice Internship Program: Why Do Students Take It and Does It Improve Career Preparedness?

The internship program in the Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, is designed to help students: determine their career interests, learn factual and procedural information from practitioners, build relationships that facilitate career opportunities, and to smooth the school-work transition. The current study is an evaluation of this internship program and aimed to determine whether the program increased career preparedness. Surveys of students involved in the internship program were conducted at the beginning and end of the program. Students in other non-internship criminal justice courses completed a similar survey and serve as the comparison group. Results suggest that, relative to the non-internship group, some aspects of career preparedness improved for the interns. However, not all results were in the direction hypothesized. In particular, students’ locus of control, for both internship and non-internship groups, became more external as students’ perceptions that career choice was subject to luck and the influence of powerful others increased.

Exploring Race Based Differences in Patterns of Life-Course Criminality

A persistent issue facing criminologists is the challenge of developing theoretical models that provide comprehensive explanations of the onset and persistence of criminality. One promising theory to develop over the last 30 years has been life-course theory. Using multivariate analysis of variance the main question posed in this research, do elements of social development shape the trajectory of persistent offending in a race-neutral fashion, or are the dynamics shaping life-course criminality unique for people of color, was examined. The results provide a number of useful insights into the relationship between race, life-course transition factors, and longitudinal patterns of criminality.

Individual-Level Predictors of Community Aftercare Completion

The importance of prison treatment for substance-using offenders in reducing recidivism and relapse has garnered much attention and acceptance over the past 30 years. The role of community aftercare as a continuum of the treatment process has been broadly acknowledged as essential in enhancing posttreatment success. However, our understanding of individual-level factors influencing a client’s willingness to participate and engage in aftercare remains limited. This article presents findings of individual-level factors found to be associated with successful completion of aftercare among a sample of 259 ex-offenders admitted to aftercare following 12 months of in-prison drug treatment.

Virtual Life Sentences: An Exploratory Study:

Virtual life sentences are sentences with a term of years that exceed an individual’s natural life expectancy. This exploratory study is one of the first to collect data that establish the existence, prevalence, and scope of virtual life sentences in state prisons in the United States. Initial data reveal that more than 31,000 people in 26 states are serving virtual life sentences for violent and nonviolent offenses, and suggest racial disparities in the distribution of these sentences. This study also presents potential policy implications and suggestions for future research.

Introduction to Emerging Adulthood

What is emerging adulthood? How did it come about? How does it impact the behavior of young people in modern society? Here we introduce these ideas: major concepts are introduced and emerging adulthood is explained in the context of other cohort-based generations. An outline plan of this book is presented by chapter.

Sex, Crime, Drugs, and Just Plain Stupid Behaviors

What is emerging adulthood? How did it come about? How does it impact the behavior of young people in modern society? Here we introduce these ideas and major concepts are introduced and emerging adulthood is explained in the context of other cohort based generations. An outline the plan of this book is presented by chapter.

Implications for Policy and Change

This chapter explores the challenges that emerging adult populations present to the criminal justice system. Potential policy changes and ways to cope with the risky/dangerous, substance use, and criminal behaviors found in emerging adults are presented. Recommendations for public policy/criminal justice and recommendations for institutions (colleges/universities) are discussed.