Diminishing Returns? Threshold Effects of Dispositions and Recidivism Among Court-Involved Girls

This study examines juvenile court responses among justice-involved girls. We analyze 10 years of court records on girls (N = 1,102) from a Midwestern juvenile court to assess the impact of various aspects of placements and dispositions on recidivism outcomes. We explore how the number of dispositions girls receive, the type of disposition, and type of placement affect 2-year recidivism. Our findings indicate there may be a threshold effect to receiving dispositions—receiving three or more dispositions was significantly related to increased recidivism. Furthermore, the combination of receiving both treatment and sanction dispositions was significantly related to an increased likelihood of recidivism. Girls who received only community-based placements were more likely to recidivate than those who did not receive any dispositions. This study advances our understanding of court responses to girls and how these responses influence girls’ experiences and outcomes while involved with the juvenile justice system.