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PIC (Personality Inventory for Children) Delinquency Scale Validity in Relation to Self-Reported Delinquent Acts

NCJ Number
93827
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1984) Pages: 35-46
Author(s)
T M McAuliffe; P J Handal
Date Published
1984
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study further evaluated the Personality Inventory for Children's Delinquency Scale (DLQ) in terms of its dual purpose as a measure of delinquent tendencies and as an aid in identifying male and female adolescents who commit serious offenses.
Abstract
The DLQ cutoff scores were supported as identifying nonapprehended adolescents who showed stronger delinquent tendencies, defined as reporting significantly more frequent delinquent acts. The male and female groups scoring above the DLQ cutoff scores were found to report significantly more delinquent acts and to score below the delinquency cutoff scores of the CPI Socialization Scale. The DLQ cutoff scores were not supported, however, as identifying 'serious offenders,' defined as those adolescents who reported at least one offense rated as a serious crime. (Author abstract)