Juvenile Victimization and Delinquency (From Victims of Crime and the Victimization Process, P 48-74, 1997, Marilyn McShane and Frank P. Williams, III, eds. - See NCJ-171054)

• NCJ Number: 171057
• Author(s): F-A Esbensen; D Huizinga
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 27 pages
• Grant Number(s): 86-JN-CX-006; DA-05183
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: Garland Publishing, Inc.
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Reprinted from Youth and Society, V 23, N 2 (December 1991), P 202-228

Annotation

Interviews with a probability of sample of youths ages 11-15 years living in high-risk neighborhoods gathered information on self-reported victimization and juvenile delinquency to determine the possible relationship between these two characteristics of the crime situation.

Abstract

Census and police statistics were used to determine the high-risk neighborhoods in a large midwestern city. The hour-long interviews gathered information from 877 youths. Results revealed that 46.5 percent of the males had been victims of personal crimes, and 51.5 percent of the males had been victims of property crimes at some time during their lives. In contrast, 32 percent of the females had been victims of personal crimes, and 45 percent had been victims of property crimes. The youngest children and those living in intact families reported the lowest rates of personal victimizations. Property victimization was similar for different family types. Personal victimizations were also associated with lifetime reports of all seven types of delinquent behavior studied, as well as with the general delinquency measure. The overall relationship between the variety of delinquent involvement and the likelihood of victimization was remarkably strong. Analysis of prevalence data for the last year revealed a statistically significant relationship between drug sales and victimization by crimes against the person. In addition, youths refraining from use of alcohol and marijuana had significantly lower rates of personal and property victimization than did youths involved in the use of either drug. Further research is needed to test the potential explanation of these findings from the routine-activities perspective and to examine the temporal relationship, if any, between victimization and delinquency. Tables, notes, appended list of delinquent acts, and 44 references