Juveniles in Crime, Part I: Participation Rates and Risk Factors

• NCJ Number: 177649
• Author(s): J Baker
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 99 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
• Sale Source: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This first comprehensive survey of self-reported offending by Australian secondary school students in New South Wales focuses on the prevalence and frequency of offending as well as the factors that potentially influence participation in particular crime types.

Abstract

The data analyzed were part of the New South Wales component of the 1996 Australian School Students' Alcohol and Drugs Survey. Information on offending behavior was solicited from 5,178 secondary school students in New South Wales. Regarding prevalence and frequency of offending, the data show that large numbers of secondary students offend, but not frequently. In the 12 months prior to the survey, the analysis estimates that 29 percent of students assaulted someone, 27 percent maliciously damaged property, 15 percent received or sold stolen goods, 9 percent shoplifted, 5 percent committed break-and-enter, and 5 percent committed motor vehicle theft. For each type of offense, the median offending frequency was one to two times in the 12 months prior to the survey among those students who had committed that type of offense. Male students generally had higher rates of participation in each offense than female students. Participation in each type of offense tended to peak around years 9 to 10 (14 to 16 years old) for both males and females. The potential risk factors for juvenile crime examined were level of supervision; family structure; self-perceived school performance; truancy; Aboriginality; ethnicity; gender; and the use of alcohol, cannabis, opiates, stimulants, and steroids. Several of these factors were significantly associated with all types of offenses. Controlling for all other factors, students who were frequently truant, who were male, who drank alcohol, and who used cannabis were more likely than other students to participate in assaults, malicious damage, and theft offenses. Policy implications are drawn for juvenile delinquency prevention measures. 14 notes, 73 references, extensive tabular data, and appended survey questions