NCJ Number
121954
Journal
New Designs for Youth Development Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 3, & 4 Dated: (Spring, Summer, & Fall 1988) Pages: 65-68
Date Published
1989
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A procedure for using official data rather than self-reports to predict juvenile delinquency based on measures of a youth's social bonds was developed and tested using information from probation files for 1970-77 for a rural county in a midwestern State.
Abstract
The model used concepts from the social bond theories of Hirschi, Wiatrowski, and others, resting on the view that individuals with more ties to society are less likely to commit delinquent acts. The model focused on the four concepts involved in social bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Specific measures included the family structure, school grades, dropping out of school, age at first adjudication, participation in extracurricular activities, and seriousness of the first offense. Social class was also measured by examining the occupation of the head of the household. The model was tested using path analysis. Findings indicated that youths with lower grades, who drop out of school, or who commit delinquent acts at an early age are more likely than others to commit delinquent acts. However, whether the home had one or two parents was not a strong predictor. Findings that showed that the model using official data compares favorably to the model that uses self-report data. Figures, tables, and 14 references.