"Might Not Be a Tomorrow": A Multimethods Approach to Anticipated Early Death and Youth Crime

• NCJ Number: 229213
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2009 Pages: 1091-1130
• Author(s): Timothy Brezina; Erdal Tekin; Volkan Topalli
• Date Published: November 2009
• Length: 40 pages
• Grant Number(s): 0520092
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between anticipated early death and youth crime.

Abstract

The quantitative findings confirm the results of prior studies showing a positive relationship between anticipated early death and youth crime. The results increase confidence in the assumption that anticipated early death is a contributing factor to youth crime and violence. Several researchers point to the anticipation of early death, or a sense of "futurelessness," as a contributing factor to youth crime. It is argued that young people who perceive a high probability of early death may have little reason to delay gratification for the promise of future benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between anticipated early death and youth crime and shed light on the cognitive processes that potentially link anticipated early death with criminal involvement. Tables, figure, and references