Both studies documented the education, employment, and crime activities of respondents and analyzed how these activities interacted. Age and neighborhood primarily influenced the quality and extent of employment and the type and frequency of criminal activity. Older respondents generally had more and better work than younger subjects. They also had lower arrest rates for income-oriented crime over 3 years. Distinctive types of employment and crime activities characterized study neighborhoods, apparently reflecting opportunity structures for high-risk youth. Although there was a general inverse relationship between employment and crime in both studies, work did not significantly influence the extent of young respondents' criminal activity. Older respondents' arrest for income-oriented crime decreased during their employment periods. Although direct effects of employment on crime were limited, indirect relationships were evident in contrasts between study neighborhoods. 39-item bibliography. (Author abstract modified)