NCJ Number
224908
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2008 Pages: 380-397
Date Published
November 2008
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined how individual characteristics of children and institutional responses to them contributed to bullying behavior and later involvement in serious delinquent behavior.
Abstract
The results show that youth who are placed in special education have several risk factors. The findings suggest multiple explanations of the link between special education and serious delinquency. Some youth may engage in delinquency after experiencing academic failure; others may be prone to problem behavior in school based on an existing propensity toward aggression. Little is known about the school careers of bullies and the factors that put them at risk for delinquency. One such factor is the placement of children in special education classrooms. Bullying can create a climate of fear and discomfort in schools and communities. This study examined the longitudinal associations between children’s bullying, special education placements in elementary school, and serious delinquent behavior during secondary school. The study utilized data from the youngest sample of the Pittsburgh Youth Study, an ongoing longitudinal project initiated in 1987. The sample consisted of 503 boys who entered first grade in the fall of 1987. Tables and references