The Long View of Crime: A Synthesis of Longitudinal Research

The main body of this book is devoted to answering a key question in criminology: What have we learned from recent longitudinal studies of crime and delinquency? Additional chapters include an introduction and overview, an essay reflecting on the findings highlighted in the volume from the broad perspective of the evolutionary ecological theory of crime, and a Future Directions chapter. The volume also includes an appendix which relates each of the reviews to the body of longitudinal studies reviewed in the volume. This not only shows which studies have informed which topics, but also highlights analytic opportunities that have not yet been explored and where this information could be applied in future research.

Answers a Key Question in Criminology: What have we learned from recent longitudinal studies of crime and delinquency? Includes a synthesis of longitudinal studies in criminology over the last 25 years Brings together prominent scholars in criminology to discuss theory, methodology, and impact of longitudinal studies in criminology

Klappentext

Criminology has long been concerned with many questions that are inherently longitudinal. What is the developmental life-course of criminal behavior? Is there one general offending pattern or multiple offending patterns? Which early risk factors, if any, are strongly predictive of criminal behavior? Do particular interventions prevent or retard future criminal behavior?

Longitudinal research following individuals over many years has unique potential to answer such questions, although such studies take many years to conduct. Many longitudinal studies of crime and delinquency initiated since the 1980s have produced hundreds of published papers, providing an unprecedented opportunity to address such questions.

What have we learned? The six reviews in The Long View of Crime synthesize findings from about 200 papers from over 60 longitudinal studies. Three considerations guided the choice of topics for review: (a) a critical mass of studies; (b) an emphasis on longitudinal methods; and (c) policy relevance.

The volume focuses on adolescence. Several adolescent experiences are considered directly, including employment, gang involvement, and first arrests. Adolescence is also considered in relation to early childhood, from a focus on the end of adolescence, and as situated in the longer context of criminal careers.

The volume begins with an introduction and executive summary, and concludes with a chapter considering future directions in using longitudinal research to study causes of delinquency. In addition, an Appendix lists each longitudinal study in the volume along with essential study features, and cross-lists the studies with the reviews. This shows which longitudinal studies informed each topic, and also indicates analytic opportunities not yet explored.

Inhalt
and Executive Summary.- Synthesizing Recent Longitudinal Findings.- Crime and the Life Course.- Taking Stock of Developmental Trajectories of Criminal Activity over the Life Course.- What we have Learned about Early Childhood and the Development of Delinquency.- Longitudinal Perspectives on Adolescent Street Gangs.- A Review of Research on the Impact on Crime of Transitions to Adult Roles.- Intervening in the Life-Course of Crime.- What have we Learned from Longitudinal Studies of Work and Crime?.- The Effect of Arrest and Justice System Sanctions on Subsequent Behavior: Findings from Longitudinal and Other Studies.- Future Directions.- Advancing Knowledge About Causes in Longitudinal Studies: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Methods.