Juvenile Delinquency: Risks and Protective Factors--Findings of the WODC Youth Delinquency Survey, 2005

• NCJ Number: 217716
• Author(s): A. M. van der Laan; M. Blom
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 335 pages
• Sale Source: Boom Juridische Unitgevers (Royal Boom Publishers)
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Country: Netherlands
• Note: English Summary

Annotation

This study examined the prevalence, trends, and risk and protective factors related to self-reported juvenile delinquency among youth in the Netherlands between the ages of 10 and 17 years.

Abstract

Results indicated that 55.7 percent of all 1,460 participants had committed at least 1 offense during the 12 months prior to the survey. The most common offenses were “fare dodging” and “setting off fireworks outside permitted times.” Excluding these offenses, 40 percent of the participants had committed an offense during the 12 months prior to the survey. For these participants, the most commonly reported offenses were “striking someone without causing an injury,” “theft from school or work,” and “discrimination because of race.” Boys and those in older age groups were significantly more likely to commit offenses than girls and those in younger age groups. No significant delinquency differences were found for race (Dutch versus non-Dutch). Trend analysis for self-reported delinquency between 1996 and 2005 indicated that the prevalence of delinquency fluctuated 31 percent during the study period and the most frequently committed offense during this time was “fare dodging.” In terms of risk factors for delinquency, the findings revealed that most participants had fairly low risk scores, with boys having slightly higher risk scores than girls. Generally, non-delinquents had more favorable risk scores than self-reported delinquents. Risk factors included problems with peers, regular alcohol and “soft drug” consumption, and single-parent families. Protective factors were identified as emotional support from the father, control over leisure activities by the father and mother, and passive supervision of leisure activities by the mother. Data were drawn from the most recent WODC Youth Delinquency Survey (WODC YDS), a cross-sectional study conducted every 3 years among a representative group of 1,460 Dutch teenagers between the ages of 10 and 17 years. The survey focused on the teenager’s background characteristics, involvement in delinquency, and delinquency risk factors. The surveys were completed using face-to-face interviews and a laptop computer. Policy implications are discussed. Tables, figures, footnotes, references