Exposure to Violence and Fighting in Juvenile Detention: Examining the Role of Feeling Unsafe

Abstract

This study examines associations among exposure to violence, feeling unsafe, and fighting behavior within juvenile detention. Using data from the Northwestern Juvenile Project (N = 389), generalized structural equation modeling was used to assess whether feeling unsafe was associated with the relationship between exposure to physical violence during detention and fighting behavior. Exposure to violence was significantly associated with both feeling unsafe and fighting behavior, and gang involvement was also associated with fighting. Although feeling unsafe was strongly associated with exposure to violence, it did not account for the association between exposure to violence and fighting. Findings underscore the importance of in-custody violence as a correlate of institutional aggression and highlight implications for violence prevention and trauma-informed detention practices.