Sesha Kethineni

Youth-on-Parent Violence in a Central Illinois County

Research on family violence has focused on spousal violence and child abuse with little attention to youth-on-parent violence. Limited survey data suggest that 10% of all juveniles hit their parents. These assaults create long-term detrimental effects. This study of 83 adjudicated juveniles in central Illinois, charged with domestic battery or violence against their parents, examined demographic characteristics of the juveniles and their parents/caretakers, reported criminal behaviors, drug/alcohol use, gang involvement, medical/mental/emotional/behavioral conditions, and school disciplinary problems. In addition, family dynamics, such as criminal convictions of family members, were analyzed. Juveniles’ mental/emotional conditions, drug/alcohol use, and gang involvement played important roles in parent battering.

The impact of parental controls on delinquency

Previous studies have argued that not only indirect controls but also direct controls lessen delinquency. Through a self-report survey of high school youths, the current study attempts to assess this thesis. Supportive of previous studies, the data revealed that even with a range of theoretically salient variables controlled, direct control was inversely related to delinquent involvement. This relationship, however, was stronger and more consistent for males than females.

A Comparison of Civil and Criminal Orders of Protection as Remedies for Domestic Violence Victims in a Midwestern County

Past research has identified many potential advantages of civil protection orders as a means of addressing domestic violence without invoking an official response of the criminal justice system. Using data from a Midwestern county, this exploratory study provides a comparison of civil protection orders with orders of protection that are filed in conjunction with a criminal battering arrest. We examine the demographic characteristics of the respondents/defendants and petitioners/victims, the nature of the abuse leading up to the filing of the protection order, the reasons for filing, the terms of the order, location of the offense, and violations of orders. Our findings reveal many similarities between types of orders, in terms of order stipulations, past abuse histories of petitioners/victims, and respondents/defendants’ likelihood of reoffending. The findings also reveal an important difference in the petitioners’ and victims’ reasons for filing; whereas petitioners in civil cases were more likely to identify emotional abuse as the factor leading up to issuance of the order, victims in criminal cases were more likely to document physical abuse. We discuss these findings in the context of victim preference.

Police Handling of Domestic Violence Cases in Tamil Nadu, India

Police in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, use a two-tier system in domestic violence cases. More serious cases, such as dowry deaths and murders resulting from domestic disputes, are registered in the First Information Report for official police investigation and filing of charges. All other domestic violence cases are initially registered in a register called Community Service Register before further investigation. This article will compare the types of domestic violence cases officially registered by the police and the cases disposed of informally and will examine how recent domestic violence legislation affects the role of women police in dealing with domestic violence case.

EXPLORING THE ETIOLOGY OF DELINQUENCY ACROSS COUNTRY AND GENDER

ABSTRACT Dimensions employed by Elliott et al. (1985) to test strain, control, and social learning theory are employed in a cross-national/gender analysis of their relative ability to explain the delinquent behavior of American and Indian high-school boys and girls. Significant differences across countries and genders are found in self-reported delinquency rates as well as most of the variables used to measure theoretical dimensions. As found generally, of the three theories social learning appears to be the only argument consistently related to delinquency across both countries and genders, although the relative explanatory ability of these variables varies by country, but not gender. The implications of these findings for explaining the etiology of delinquent behavior around the world as well as casting light on understanding world-wide variations in offense rates are discussed.

Youth Violence: An Exploratory Study of a Treatment Program in a Central Illinois County

A local treatment provider has developed an OPTIONS program to prevent adolescent aggression. The program is designed for youths who displayed threatening or abusive behaviors, particularly toward family members. This study described the characteristics of juveniles and their families who were referred to the program and if the program participation helped reduce the severity of violence and improve the communication skills among program participants. Referrals came from law enforcement, juvenile court services, school resource officers, and parents. Information on 100 juveniles and their families were provided by the counselors of the program. The findings showed that a large percentage of juveniles came from unstable families with a family history of criminal convictions, substance abuse, or mental illness. Program participants showed an improvement in communication skills and reduction in their levels of dangerousness.

The Impact of Juvenile Justice Reforms in India

This article examines changes in the juvenile justice system after passage of the comprehensive Juvenile Justice Act (1986) and the impact those changes have had on juvenile offenders in India. Specifically, this study examines how changes in the juvenile justice system impacted the types of cases brought before the juvenile courts and the types of dispositions imposed on delinquent children. Data were collected from court records in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, from January 1983 to November 1997.

Female homicide offenders in India

The study explores the patterns and causes of female homicide offending in domestic versus nondomestic situations by incarcerated women in India, analyzes circumstances behind such crimes, and compares them against cross‐national and U.S.‐based perspectives. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 74 female murderers serving life sentences in two state correctional institutions in one of the southern states of India. The results show that many of the domestic murders were committed in order to end cycles of domestic abuse, while a majority of nondomestic murders were committed with family members or accomplices in support of family unity. In either case, these murders reflect the subordinate social position of women in India. The patterns and causes found in this study were similar to those in many cross‐national studies on homicides by females. Recommendations include changing the social and economic status of women, as well as the legal recognition of battered women syndrome as a defense.

The Effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Program for At-Risk Youth: Changes in Attitudes, Social Skills, Family, and Community and Peer Relationships

Abstract The study evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral program in assisting juvenile probationers to change their attitudes, improve social skills, develop positive family relationships, and improve community and peer relationships. A total of 86 medium- to high-risk juvenile probationers in the program were compared with a matched sample of 86 youths who did not participate in the program. Results showed that males in the program showed significant improvements in overall attitudes and family relationships compared to their nonprogram counterparts. The results provide support to existing research that cognitive-behavioral programs, when implemented correctly, show positive changes among high-risk youth.

Protective orders in domestic violence cases in a mid‐western county

The study reviewed ninety violations of orders of protections in a Mid‐western county from November 1999 through May 2000. Demographic profiles of offenders and victims, prior criminal histories, severity of prior dispositions, victim/offender relationships, and the nature of current violations and dispositions were examined. The study also examined the relationship between prior criminal charges and current offenses. The results show that there was no relationship between the type of prior charges and the nature of current offense, indicating that the nature of prior offenses does not predict whether a person will commit domestic violence or violate orders of protection. Severity of prior disposition, especially prior prison sentence, did not predict the type of reoffense committed. Some form of court supervision with a jail sentence seemed to be a viable alternative for first‐time domestic violent offenders.