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Early Predictors of Late Onset Offenders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

Georgia Zara  and
David P. Farrington
Georgia Zara
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Turin University
David P. Farrington
Affiliation:
Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University
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Abstract

In the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, 411 South London males have been followed up from age 8 to age 48. The main aim of this article is to investigate the predictors of late onset offenders : those first convicted after the 21st birthday. The most important predictors were poor housing and low non-verbal intelligence at age 8-10; high anxiety and early school leaving at age 12-14; and high neuroticism and an anti-establishment attitude at age 16-18. It is concluded that high anxiety and nervousness may have protected children from offending at an early age, because they did not get involved with other children in daring or risk-taking activities. However, the protective effects wore off in adulthood. Low intelligence and attainment were also important predictors of late onset offenders.

Résumé

Résumé

Dans l’étude du développement délinquant de Cambridge, 411 hommes du sud de Londres ont été suivis de l’âge de 8 ans à celui de 48. L'objet essentiel du présent article est d'examiner les prédicteurs de délinquance tardive, menant à une première condamnation après leur 21e anniversaire.

Les principaux prédicteurs ont été un habitat pauvre et une faible intelligence non verbale à l’âge de 8 à 10 ans; une anxiété élevée et un abandon précoce de la scolarité entre 12 et 14 ans; et une forte tendance névrotique et une attitude d'hostilité à l'ordre établi à 16 à 18 ans.

La conclusion est qu'une anxiété et une nervosité élevées ont pu protéger les enfants de la délinquance dans un premier temps, parce qu'ils n’étaient pas impliqués avec d'autres enfants dans des activités osées et risquées, mais qu’à l’âge adulte ces effets protecteurs ont disparu. Une faible intelligence et de faibles accomplissements représentent aussi des prédicteurs importants de délinquance d'apparition tardive.

Resumen

Resumen

En el estudio del desarrollo del delincuente de Cambridge, se han seguido a 411 hombres del sur de Londres, de edades comprendidas entre los 8 y los 48 años. El objeto principal del presente artículo es examinar los predictores de delincuencia tardía, con una primera condena después de su 21° cumpleaños.

Los principales predictores han sido un hábitat pobre y una inteligencia no verbal débil a la edad de 8 a 10 años; una elevada ansiedad y un abandono precoz de la escolaridad entre los 12 y los 14 años; y una fuerte tendencia neurótica y una actitud de hostilidad al orden establecido entre los 16 y los 18 años.

La conclusión es que una ansiedad y un nerviosismo elevados han podido proteger a los niños de la delincuencia en un primer momento, porque no se implicaban con otros niños en actividades osadas y arriesgadas, pero a la edad adulta estos efectos protectores han desaparecido. Una débil inteligencia y un escaso cumplimiento de objetivos son también predictores importantes de la delincuencia de aparición tardía.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
International Annals of Criminology , Volume 45 , Issue 1-2 , 2007 , pp. 37 - 56
Copyright
© 2007 International Society for Criminology

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