NCJ Number
191915
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: 2001 Pages: 73-85
Date Published
2001
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined the importance of factors alleged to be causes or correlates of adult male criminality in Colombia according to the published literature from other countries.
Abstract
A comparison was made between arrested male offenders from ages 18 to 30 (n=223) and similar community controls (n=222) selected from five cities in Colombia regarding their family background, exposure to abuse, family stressors, perceived care, and history of childhood disruptive behavior problems. Compared with neighborhood controls from similar social classes, offenders were significantly more likely to report having had parents with less education; a mother under the age of 18 or over the age of 35 at time of birth; family members involved in crime; experiencing extreme economic deprivation; parental absence; family conflict; severe punishments; physical abuse; and maternal unavailability, rejection, and lack of supervision. The prevalence of childhood disruptive behavior problems was similar among offenders and controls. These findings appear to be independent of economic status, family size or type, birth order, or primary caregiver. Although the independent contribution of most of these factors was small, once all others had been controlled, their cumulative effect was strong. These findings do not support the general view that adult antisocial behavior is necessarily preceded by a history of childhood behavior problems; however, they add to the evidence for the importance of family factors in the risk for adult criminality. 2 tables, 28 references, and an appended listing of variables to show percentage of agreement between primary caregiver and respondent