Citation

Depadilla L, Perkins MM, Elifson KW, Sterk CE. Crim. Justice Rev. 2012; 37(1): 110-126.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Georgia State University Public and Urban Affairs, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0734016811432921

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this article, the authors examine the relative contribution of four domains of predictors that have been linked to adult criminal involvement: (a) sociodemographic characteristics, (b) family-of-origin factors, (c) proximal processes developed during adolescence, and (d) current lifestyle and situational factors. Cross-sectional data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 242 community-recruited adults. Data analysis involved negative binomial regression. Being male, family size, juvenile delinquency, aggression, living with someone involved in illegal activity, and recent violent victimization were independently associated with nonviolent criminal involvement. Aggression, association with deviant peers, and recent violent victimization were independently associated with violent criminal involvement. Juvenile delinquency and aggression mediated the affect of multiple family-of-origin characteristics on nonviolent criminal involvement and aggression mediated the effect of childhood physical abuse on violent criminal involvement. The results emphasize the importance of investigating both antecedents and proximal risk factors predictive of different types of criminal involvement, which, in turn, will assist in developing risk-focused prevention and intervention programs.

KEYWORDS: Juvenile justice; Juvenile delinquency