NCJ Number
202601
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: 2002 Pages: 510-516
Editor(s)
John Gunn
Date Published
2002
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article presents findings from a 1960's longitudinal study, the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development conducted by John Gunn, describing the development of criminal behavior in urban males in England.
Abstract
The Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development is a long-term follow-up study of South London males which began in 1961. The study describes the development of criminal behavior in urban males. It investigates why offending began, why it continued, and why it ended, to see how far offending could be predicted in advance, and to establish the relative importance of different predictors of offending. Lastly, it studies the correlates of criminal behavior at different ages and the effects or life events on the course of development. The study followed-up 411 South London males from age 8 to 48, originally assessed in 1961-1962. They were interviewed and assessed eight times between age 8 and 32, and are currently being interviewed at age 46-48 to assess their current and recent self-reported offending and their current success in various aspects of their lives. Findings are presented in the areas of criminal careers, syndrome of deviance, childhood risk factors, and effects of life events. References