NCJ Number
142737
Date Published
1993
Length
25 pages
Annotation
A secondary analysis of data from the National Youth Survey regarding youths aged 14-20 produced a description of annual rates of delinquency and drug abuse while controlling for the type of offender.
Abstract
The 1,725 youths were a probability sample and were ages 11-17 in 1976. They were interviewed initially at their homes in January through March 1977 and subsequently reinterviewed in 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981 wherever they could be located. The findings reported here are from the 1,539 youths interviewed in 1979. These youths were classified into drug user and delinquent typologies representing more serious involvements. Results revealed that 85-90 percent of the youths either committed no crime or committed minor delinquencies and used some drugs. In addition, the annual rates of delinquency increased directly with more serious drug involvements, even when controlling for delinquent type. Fewer than 2 percent of all youths reported committing two or more index offenses and used cocaine or heroin. These youths had such high delinquency rates that they accounted for 40 to 60 percent of robberies, felony thefts, and drug sales and for a disproportionate share of all marijuana and other drugs used. However, fewer than one-fourth reported that their recent nondrug crimes were motivated mainly to obtain money for drugs. Findings indicated that even in a national probability sample, juvenile delinquency is highly concentrated among a very small proportion of drug-abusing delinquents. Tables, figures, and 45 references (Author abstract modified)