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Young People, Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: Findings From the 2003 Crime and Justice Survey

NCJ Number
208694
Author(s)
Ruth Hayward; Clare Sharp
Date Published
2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report presents results regarding antisocial behavior from the 2003 Crime and Justice Survey (C&JS) for respondents aged 10 to 25 years.
Abstract
The C&JS is a nationally representative survey that collects self-report data on offending behavior from roughly 12,000 individuals living in England and Wales. The 2003 survey also included questions about anti-social behavior for respondents aged 10 to 25 years. Key findings indicate that 29 percent of young respondents reported committing at least one act of antisocial behavior during the previous year. Public disturbance was the most common antisocial behavior, followed by neighbor complaints. The majority (68 percent) of respondents reported only engaging in one type of antisocial behavior. Males reported more antisocial behavior than girls, with one-third of males admitting to engaging in at least one antisocial behavior. Respondents aged 14 to 16 years old were more likely than any other age group to commit antisocial behaviors, with two-fifths of these respondents reporting at least one act of antisocial behavior during the past year. A number of factors were associated with antisocial behavior: disruptive school environment, delinquent peers, drug use, risky alcohol use, negative relationships with parents, living in a highly disordered area, and being the victim of crime. Finally, 12 percent of young respondents had committed both antisocial behavior and criminal offenses during the previous year. Future longitudinal analyses will help elucidate the link between antisocial behavior and criminal offending. Box, figure, tables, references