AN ANALYSIS OF ADOLESCENT PERPETRATORS OF HOMICIDE AND ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE UPON RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY

This study assesses the recidivism for adolescent perpetrators of homi cide and attempted homicide who were released from a juvenile correcti onal facility in the late 1970s and 1980s. This follow-up is a minimum of 5 years postrelease to more than 15 years after release. The resul ts indicate that the youth studied did not perpetrate additional homic ides after release. The majority were reinvolved in crime, however, an d most who reoffended did so against persons. A significant number did not become reinvolved in crime, and almost half were not reincarcerat ed. The youth who perpetrated homicides and attempted homicides did no t differ significantly from other juvenile delinquents in their likeli hood to reoffend upon release as evidenced by a comparison of the two groups.