NCJ Number
120532
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1989) Pages: 453-463
Date Published
1989
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examines the findings of longitudinal research regarding the development of criminal behavior and draws implications for crime prevention.
Abstract
Intervention to prevent criminal careers requires knowledge about why people start committing crimes, why they continue, why their crimes change in frequency and seriousness, and why they stop committing crimes. Longitudinal studies, i.e., the following of a sample of persons from childhood through adulthood, are the best means for obtaining this information. Longitudinal studies show that those engaging in deviant and criminal behavior at an early age tend to have the longest criminal careers, suggesting that early intervention is important. Such studies also indicate that a small percentage of boys commit a large proportion of all offenses, suggesting that the targeting of chronic offenders can have a significant impact on crime. Continuity of offending is also shown in longitudinal studies; the worst offenders during one age period tend to be the worst offenders during the succeeding age period. Longitudinal studies have found that delinquent behavior is related to economic deprivation, low intelligence, and patterns of parental childrearing behavior. Parental behaviors that are cruel, passive, neglecting, or errative tend to be related to problem behaviors in children. The implication is that offending might decrease if parents were trained in appropriate childrearing techniques. Other factors in criminal behavior are broken homes, criminal parents, and delinquent peer influence. The identification of persons at risk of chronic offending is discussed, and some preventive interventions are suggested.