African American females in the juvenile system and exposure to domestic violence

• Main Author: Triplett, Tarita
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center 2001
• Subjects: Social Work
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/1396; http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2957&context=dissertations

This study is an effort to show an association between African American females exposed to familial domestic violence and recidivism. The antisocial behaviors exhibited that lead to incarceration are running away, prostitution, and physical assault. The results of this study can help social workers implement and/or improve effective treatment programs and services for this particular population. The study utilized a multi-group post test only design. The sample and setting consisted of 29 African American females at Father Flannagen's Boys Town of Georgia Community Based Program for Girls. Interval/ratio data were collected to measure the percentage of antisocial behaviors exhibited by this population. The results indicated that 96.6 percent of the participants were exposed to familial verbal abuse and 62.1 percent were exposed to familial physical assault. As a result of witnessing abuse 37.9 percent stated that it made them run away from home, 17.2 percent engaged in prostitution, 37.9 percent had physically assaulted someone, and 58.6 percent were repeat offenders. A Chi- Square Test of Association was employed to test the statistical significance of the hypothesis. The values .389 (exposure to familial physical assault cross tabulated with number of times incarcerated) and .174 (exposure to familial verbal abuse cross tabulated with number of times incarcerated) exceeded the p< .05 level of significance. Thus, concluding a statistically significant association between African American female's exposure to familial domestic violence and repeat offending.