Community Influences on Individual Delinquency: A Multilevel Analysis

• NCJ Number: 112356
• Date Published: 1988
• Author(s): D C Gottfredson; R J McNeil; G D Gottfredson
• Length: 95 pages
• Grant Number(s): 85-IJ-CX-0059
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

Self-report data from 3,729 junior high school students in 10 schools in 4 cities were examined to determine community influences on their delinquent behavior.

Abstract

The overall survey response rate was .80. Three self-report delinquency scales were used, and information was obtained on association with delinquent peers, belief in conventional social rules, attachment or commitment to school, involvement in conventional activities, and parental attachment and supervision. All measures of the community were derived from the 1980 Census of Population and Housing. Two factors explained 45.3 percent of the variance in 13 community variables: 'disorganization' and 'affluence and education.' Results indicate that community characteristics have a small effect on delinquent behavior and that the effect is different for various kinds of delinquency and for males and females. 9 tables and 69 references.