NCJ Number
133789
Date Published
Unknown
Length
26 pages
Annotation
Longitudinal data from the first five waves of the National Youth Survey and cross-sectional data from the 1976, 1980, and 1987 Monitoring the Future Surveys were used to examine the role of delinquent lifestyles in understanding the criminal victimization of adolescents and young adults.
Abstract
The analysis focused on four types of victimization: assault, robbery, larceny, and vandalism. Indicators of delinquent lifestyles included alcohol use, marijuana use, traffic tickets, and automobile accidents. Results suggested that adolescent involvement in delinquent lifestyles strongly increases the risk of both personal and property victimization. In addition, a significant proportion of the risk of victimization incurred by different demographic subgroups, especially for males, results from greater involvement in lifestyles characterized by delinquency. Moreover, very few conventional activities were found that protect adolescents from the victimization-related set of background factors (gender, race, family structure, neighborhood disorder) and offending levels. Attachment to family and school reduced victimization risk for violence, but these factors do not suggest specific activities that can be provided to reduce victimization. The analysis concluded that victimization patterns among youth cannot be understood apart from criminal and deviant activities. Reference notes and tables (Author abstract modified)