NCJ Number
186969
Journal
Criminology Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: 11/2000 Pages: 1109-1142
Date Published
November 2000
Length
34 pages
Annotation
Data from Pittsburgh formed the basis of an analysis of the relationship between the neighborhood socioeconomic context, individual characteristics and the prevalence and onset of serious juvenile delinquency committed by males.
Abstract
The research used a holistic and epidemiological analytical strategy. The central research question was whether the onset and prevalence of juvenile serious offending did not vary according to neighborhood socioeconomic context when controlling for individual sets of risk and protective characteristics. The study used 1990 census data to group the neighborhoods into four categories: disadvantaged public housing areas, disadvantaged nonpublic housing areas, advantaged, and middle-range. Information came from twice-yearly interviews conduced over 3 years with 3 samples of males in grades 1, 4, and 7, as well as their caretakers. The research collected delinquency measures for some participants up to age 14 and for others up to age 19. Results did not support the notion that neighborhood socioeconomic context has any greater direct on the early onset of serious offending. However, neighborhood socioeconomic context appeared to have a direct impact on the late onset of offending for youths who scored high on protective factors or who had a balanced mix of risk and protective factors. Results produced no support for the notion that individual risk characteristics and neighborhood risk were additive. The analysis concluded that children and adolescents with high scores on risk characteristics offended in serious crime at a similar high rate regardless of the socioeconomic context of their neighborhood. Tables, appended tables, and 52 references (Author abstract modified)