NCJ Number
94774
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1984) Pages: 185-194
Date Published
1984
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The assumption that many or most juveniles show a specialization in offense type and a progression over time from less to more serious offenses was examined in a review of 33 studies of juvenile delinquent behavior patterns.
Abstract
Of these, 21 strongly support the thesis that juvenile offenses manifest a primarily versatile pattern, regardless of cohort sampled (status offenders, gang members, inmates). Further, almost all studies using a progression analysis appear in this group of 21 studies, and these failed to find even a general pattern of progression from status to misdemeanor to felony offenses. Of the eight studies with ambiguous implications, most yielded more support for the versatility thesis than for a specialization thesis. The four studies reporting clear patterns of offense groups have two distinct similarities: all are self-report studies, and all use some form of a factor analytic approach. However, of reports failing to support specialization, 13 were self-report, 11 were factor analytic, and 7 combined self-report data and factor analytic techniques. Thus, differences in methodology alone seem an unlikely explanation for the four anomalous studies. These results, taken in conjunction with the findings of similar reviews, point predominantly toward versatility or cafeteria-style delinquency. Evidence supports a general delinquency factor while being weak for offense specialization and seriousness progression.