Always in Custody? An Agenda for Juvenile Reentry

Successful ex-offender reentry is and should be a target of theory development, research, research-informed practice, and strenuous evaluation. It is estimated that between 8 and 10 percent of American youths will spend some period of time in a correctional facility. Currently, both adult and juvenile reentry are subjects of discussion and research; however, most of the attention on juvenile offenders has focused on the older adolescent and emerging adult. Whereas most youths fall in the 17-to-25 age range, the special needs of those younger reentering juveniles - who are not developmentally or legally adults - require that this population be treated and studied as a separate and equally important group. A targeted exploration of factors leading to reentry success, necessary for this youngest cohort of confined offenders, will involve further theory, research, and a legal definition of "custody'' for children.