Academic remediation/achievement and other factors related to recidivism rates among delinquent youths

Given the close association of academic achievement with delinquency and re cidivism, further examination of the relationship between these variables i s warranted. This study examined the records of 549 delinquent males commit ted to the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney, Nebraska ( a state correctional facility), who received general equivalency diplomas ( GEDs) while incarcerated and those whose academic achievement was assessed (Woodcock Johnson Psychoeducational Battery-Revised/Tests of Achievement [W J-ACH] pretest and posttest scores [Woodcock & Johnson, 1989]) from 1990 th rough 1996. Findings were consistent with previous research showing that th e age of the offender at first offense and first commitment differentiated recidivists from nonrecidivists. Additional discriminant factors included p retest WI-ACH stores in reading, writing, math, and skills; improvement in academic achievement in writing and skills; and GED performance in science and math, location of residence, and ethnic origin.