On the Number and Shape of Developmental/Life-Course Violence, Aggression, and Delinquency Trajectories: A State-of-the-Art Review

• NCJ Number: 240249
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 40 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2012 Pages: 472-489
• Author(s): Wesley G. Jennings; Jennifer M. Reingle
• Date Published: December 2012
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents the results of a literature review of studies that used latent trajectory modeling to examine the number and shape of the trajectories of violence, aggression, and delinquency.

Abstract

This meta-review of several academic databases identified 105 studies that used latent trajectory modeling to examine the number and shape of the trajectories of violence, aggression, and delinquency. The review found that the number of trajectory groups of violence, aggression, and/or delinquency ranged from two groups to seven groups, with four groups being the most prevalent, followed by three groups. In addition, the review found that while the names attached to the trajectory groups often changed, the shape of the trajectory groups identified were often consistent across the studies. The databases used in the review included Criminal Justice Abstracts, Web of Knowledge, EBSCO Host, PsychInfo, and PubMed, along with Google Scholar searches to identify articles currently "in press." The primary objective of the review was to more fully describe and understand the longitudinal patterning of criminal behavior through the review of studies that employed latent trajectory modeling. Recommendations for conducting future research using latent trajectory modeling are discussed. Tables and references