NCJ Number
131940
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1991) Pages: 262-287
Date Published
1991
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study identifies systemic level factors associated with juvenile delinquency rates by developing a conceptual model based on delinquency and cross-national crime research. The model was evaluated using cross-national, longitudinal data from 29 nations over a period of 25 years in a fixed effect, pooled, cross-section, time series analysis.
Abstract
The findings suggest that selected correlates of juvenile delinquency including level of industrialization, educational opportunity, national wealth, and guardianship do not always have the impact commonly believed. Many of these correlates exhibit curvilinearity, saturation, or threshold effects around which the sign and strength of their relationship with delinquency change. The study raised issues of what types of findings should guide policy development in the area of delinquency prevention. The authors suggest that policymakers should consider not only the traditionally emphasized relative effects of the variables, but also the nature of their relationships. 2 tables, 26 notes, and 51 references (Author abstract modified)