NCJ Number
195213
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: Fall 2001 Pages: 131-148
Date Published
2001
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined the validity of self-control theory by using an offender sample and behavioral measures from criminal records.
Abstract
Self-control is the strongest individual-level predictor of crime. The study sought to examine whether self-control influenced failure among offenders supervised by the criminal justice system; employed a sample of offenders whom one would expect to be characterized by relatively low levels of self-control; and used a behavioral measure to examine similar behavioral outcomes. The data was a simple random sample of 500 arrested adults drawn from a large urban jail in the Western United States. A pretrial services unit interviewed all respondents from January to June 2000. They obtained self-reported and official information regarding employment, residence, mental health, substance abuse treatment, and criminal history. This information was used to determine the defendant’s risks of flight, recidivism, danger to the community, and bond recommendations. Five dependent variables were used to evaluate the effect of self-control on criminal justice system status and behavior. These indicators were felony convictions, prison sentences, arrests for failing to appear for mandatory court dates, arrests for failing to comply with probation or parole, and arrests for escape. The behavioral self-control measure used personal identifiers such as the use of aliases and alternative dates of birth, places of birth, and social security numbers to adequately reflect self-control. Results showed that persons who were arrested early in life missed more court dates, violated more conditions of their sentences, escaped more frequently, were convicted of more felonies, and spent more time in prison than offenders whose onset occurred later. Offenders with lower self-control demonstrated greater criminality and noncompliance than persons with higher levels of self-control. Low self-control describes why multiple problems consistently occur among certain individuals. Once these individuals become involved in the criminal justice system, it is very difficult for them to find a way out. 2 tables, 64 references