NCJ Number
34038
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1975) Pages: 321-332
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
AN APPROACH TO CLASSIFICATION OF MAJOR OFFENSES AND OF OFFENDERS BASED ON REGULARITIES OF TRANSITION AMONG OFFENSES IS EXAMINED IN A CONSTRUCTION SAMPLE OF 1523 AND A VALIDATION SAMPLE OF 5636 MALE RECIDIVISTS.
Abstract
THE RESEARCH STRATEGY CALLED FOR TWO ANALYSES. FIRST REGULARITIES IN TRANSITIONS BETWEEN COMMITMENT AND NEW OFFENSES OF THE CONSTRUCTION SAMPLE WERE USED TO DERIVE A CLASSIFICATORY SCHEME. THE RESULTS OF THIS FIRST STEP WERE THEN USED TO ORGANIZE THE DATA FOR THE VALIDATION SAMPLE SO THAT THE PREDICTIVE EFFICIENCY OF THE CLASSIFICATORY SCHEME COULD BE TESTED IN A SAMPLE OTHER THAN THE ONE USED TO DERIVE IT. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE CATEGORY OF PRIOR OFFENSE IS A MODERATELY EFFICIENT PREDICTOR OF THE CATEGORY OF SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE. CATEGORIES RESEMBLING PERSON AND PROPERTY GROUPINGS FOUND IN EARLIER CLUSTER ANALYSES ARE ALSO FOUND HERE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)