NCJ Number
146110
Date Published
1990
Length
60 pages
Annotation
The onset of delinquency and its relevance to criminality in the life course were studied.
Abstract
The age at which a juvenile first commits an offense is among the most important predictors of future criminality. Early offenses are seldom the most violent and predatory crimes in a criminal career, but are often part of a developmental sequence that leads to more serious criminality. Halting continuation of delinquency immediately after onset, or even delaying onset may produce benefits by shortening the criminal career, reducing the number of offenses committed, and reducing the time available for escalation of criminality. Topics of discussion include person-environment characteristics that may lead to crime; the criminal career approach; developmental or causal sequences; the relevance of criminological theories; age- specific onset rates; onset sequences; predicting onset, participation, and persistence; and influence of age of onset on future development. Also discussed are factors that may affect the age of onset, such as biological and genetic factors; concurrent onset of sexual behavior; individual, family, and peer influences; relationship to school and academic abilities; and community and situational influences. Some experimental interventions are reviewed, including preventing and delaying onset; promoting individual competence; improving parental and peer influences. The authors cite a cohort study of delinquent and nondelinquent juveniles, and make recommendations for further research. 1 table and 225 references