Juvenile offender recidivism in Brazil: The case of Minas Gerais state

Abstract

This article is based on research conducted in the state of Minas Gerais between September 2017 and October 2018, whose objectives were to diagnose juvenile recidivism and to identify the profile of recidivist adolescents, as compared to non-offenders. We proceeded not only to calculate the rate of juvenile recidivism but also to analyze whether it is related to the socio-demographic and criminal profiles of the released adolescents of the socio-educational system. For this, we use statistical methodology through binomial logistic regression models. It was verified that the variables that most impact the probability of juvenile recidivism are the type of family bond, the early infraction trajectory of the adolescent, the consumption of illicit drugs in the period prior to compliance with the socio-educational measure. The effects of the variables type of socioeducative measure and length of compliance of the socioeducative measure are also quite expressive.