Citation

Barnes J, Boutwell BB. J. Crim. Justice 2012; 40(1): 94-102.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2011.12.003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

PURPOSE: Criminologists have devoted much attention to identifying the factors that drive stability in antisocial behavior. This body of research has, however, overlooked the contributions of behavior genetic research. This study sought to blend behavior genetics with the different perspectives used by criminologists to explain stability.

METHODS: Employing a behavioral genetic research design, the current study analyzed the correlation between adolescent and adulthood crime (a 13year time span was covered between the two time points) among a sample of sibling pairs drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health).

RESULTS: The findings revealed that genetic factors accounted for nearly all of the stability in offending behavior from adolescence to adulthood. Environmental factors (particularly, of the nonshared variety) accounted for the majority of the changes in offending.

CONCLUSIONS: The implications of these results for criminological research and theory are discussed.

KEYWORDS: Juvenile justice; Juvenile delinquency