NCJ Number
37122
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1976) Pages: 235-253
Date Published
1976
Length
19 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE PREDICTORS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, TO DEVELOP A PRACTICAL SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ITS CAUSES, AND TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOUTH CONTACTS WITH POLICE COULD BE PREDICTED.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS WERE CHILDREN IN GRADES THREE, SIX, AND NINE WHO HAD BEEN NOMINATED BY TEACHERS AS DISPLAYING AGGRESSIVE-DISRUPTIVE OR SOCIALLY APPROVED BEHAVIOR. THE CRITERION TO BE PREDICTED WAS CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DURING A PERIOD OF EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL NOMINATION. WHILE DATA FOR ALL SUBJECTS WERE GATHERED EIGHT YEARS AFTER THEIR ORIGINAL NOMINATION, THE ACTUAL CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED ANY TIME DURING THE EIGHT-YEAR INTERVAL. EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND, PSYCHOLOGICAL, FAMILY-HISTORY, CRIMINAL HISTORY, AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATA WAS OBTAINED ON THE SUBJECTS. DATA ANALYSIS OF THESE VARIABLES SHOWED THAT PREDICTIVE ACCURACIES RANGING FROM 69 PERCENT TO 79 PERCENT WERE OBTAINED USING STEPWISE MULTIPLE DISCRIMINANT FUNCTION ANALYSIS. AMONG THE VARIABLES SHOWN TO BE PREDICTIVE OF DELINQUENCY WERE SEX, BEHAVIOR AS AGGRESSIVE-DISRUPTIVE OR SOCIALLY APPROVED WHEN FIRST NOMINATED, HOME LOCATION, CHRONOLOGICAL AGE, LOW AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TRAITS WHEN NOMINATED, AND INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ). (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)