NCJ Number
169556
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 32 Issue: 126 Dated: (Summer 1997) Pages: 395-405
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examines the relationship between specific categories of alcohol and drug use and specific types of criminal offenses committed by adolescent males. The study focuses on the distinction between violent and nonviolent offenses, and the importance of alcohol and other drug use relative to conventional criminal history factors as correlates of crime among adolescent offenders.
Abstract
Based on data collected from 312 youthful offenders at a public juvenile facility, the findings reveal that, in comparison with marijuana and heroin, alcohol use is more strongly and consistently associated with both violent and nonviolent offenses. When other factors are introduced into the analysis, the results show that, while an adolescent's criminal history and racial identity are relatively more important in predicting criminal activity overall, the effect of substance use (especially alcohol and marijuana) continues to be present. Alcohol and marijuana use tended to differ in their relative importance in predicting specific offenses. Tables, references