Dynamics of Female Delinquency, 1976-1980

• NCJ Number: 92522
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1983) Pages: 555-584
• Author(s): S S Ageton
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 27552; 78-JN-AX-0003
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article employs self-report delinquency data from a national probability sample of adolescents to describe the epidemiology and dynamics of female delinquency from 1976 to 1980.

Abstract

Both age and cohort effects are examined, utilizing incidence and prevalence data categorized by race, social class, and place of residence. Within years there are few consistent, significant differences in the incidence of delinquency by any of the demographic variables analyzed. Significant race and social class differentials exist, however, in the prevalence of assaultive crimes among the panel, with substantially higher proportions of black and lower-class females reporting involvement in violent behavior for three of the five years. Strong cohort effects are observed for all delinquency measures. In general, the incidence and prevalence of serious female delinquency appear to decline with age, and the 15-17-year-old females in 1980 are significantly less involved in delinquency than their same-age peers were in 1976. (Publisher abstract)