Delinquency in an International Perspective

• NCJ Number: 204912
• Author(s): Josine Junger-Tas; Ineke Haen Marshall; Denis Ribeaud
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 197 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press; Kugler Publications
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

This book presents the findings of an international self-reported study on delinquency.

Abstract

This aim of this study was to determine the nature and extent of delinquency in three Anglo-Saxon, five Northwest European, and three Southern European countries. Chapter 1 introduces the study and its hypotheses. Chapter 2 contains detailed descriptions of the different methods used in different countries. Chapter 3 summarizes key features of the 11 countries. Chapter 4 presents landmark prevalence data on delinquency in the different countries and on relationships with age and gender. Chapter 5 summarizes prevalence results for drug use. Chapter 6 relates delinquency to family, school, and peer bonding variables. In chapter 7, results are reported on the likelihood of getting caught and social response to delinquent behavior. Chapter 8 summarizes all the results. The results showed that lifetime prevalence rates of delinquency were surprisingly similar across countries but, looking at the nature of the offenses, there were clear cross-national disparities. Property offenses rates were highest in Northwest European countries. There were high rates of violent and serious offenses in America, England and Wales, Spain, and Helsinki. High rates of mainly soft drug use were found in England and Wales, Omaha (Nebraska), and Belfast while the Netherlands occupied a medium position on the scale of drug-use rates. Although delinquent behavior peaked between age 14 and 18 across countries, the peak age was 15 in the Anglo-Saxon cluster and 16 in the other clusters. Both prevalence and frequency were much lower for females than among males. All family bonding variables (relationship with parents, participation in family outings, and parental supervision) showed a clear decline with age. Family break-up had important effects only as far as it resulted in father absence; mother absence was rare and not very influential. In all countries, there was tighter control on females than on males. Truancy and disliking school were related to all types of delinquency in all country clusters. 177 references, appendix