Youth Protective Factors Study: A Strategy for Promoting Success Based on Risks, Strengths, and Development, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin, 2014-2024

The Youth Protective Factors Study was a multistate examination of risk-need-responsivity and positive youth justice approaches and whether or not the effectiveness of these strategies varied by youths aged ten to 23 years old. In collaboration with the research labs at UMass Chan Medical and UC-Berkeley, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and juvenile justice agencies in the three project states, the project examined violent recidivism after youths' juvenile justice involvement via two studies. One, a retrospective study involving over 30,000 juveniles to lengthen follow-up periods. Two, a prospective study of 3,380 youths referred to juvenile justice systems to obtain measures of protective factors and service participation. Variables included educational history, criminal background, behavioral measures, recidivism, family, and substance use. Additionally, age, gender, race, and ethnicity demographics were collected.