NCJ Number
119887
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1989) Pages: 273-284
Date Published
1989
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the validity of self-report data and finds that self-report data are not equally valid among all ethnic groups in The Netherlands.
Abstract
Boys with official police contacts admit delinquent activities; while youngsters from Morocco and Turkey were much more reticent about admitting delinquent activities than those born in The Netherlands or coming from Surinam. These differences in willingness to admit delinquent behavior are related to social control variables, the number of police contacts, and knowledge of the Dutch language. A problem for etiological research reports that variables which are considered a cause of delinquency are also related to the tendency to admit involvement in criminality. Overall, arrest data probably provide the best information for comparing criminal involvement between ethnic groups. 21 references, 2 tables, and 2 appendix. (Author abstract modified)