Wikstrom (2003) - The Peterborough Youth Study

• AIM:

-To test a range of factors which are the most significant predictors of criminal behaviour.

SAMPLE:

-Nearly 2000 14-15 year olds from 13 state schools in the Petersborough area.

METHOD/PROCEDURE: 

-Cross selectional snapshot study , using interview data collection. 

RESULTS:

1. 44.8% of males and 30.6% of females have commited atlest one crime eg theft , violance, vandalism, shoplifting. During the year 2000 
2. 9.8% of the males and 3.8% of the females have commited a serious crime eg burglary 
3. high frequency offenders tend to commit a wide range of crimes 
4. offenders are often more victimised than non offenders 
5. offenders are more often drunk and and on drugs than non offenders. 

EXPLINATORY FACTORS :

• family and social position 
• indevidual characteristics 
• social situation 
• lifestyle routine activities 
• community context 

-Of theese the most important were the youths indevidual characteristics and the way they lived their lives. 

-Youths with many risk factors offend frequently. Whilst youths with many protective factors tend to not offend often. 

KEY RISK FACTORS 

• weak family bonds 
• poor parenting 
• low levels of shame 
• poor self controll 

CONCLUSIONS; 3 groups of offenders .

Propensity- Induced = theese youths ahve enduring prophencyty to offend , because of their personality or chracteristics ( theese tend to have high risk factors 

Lifestyle dependant = they are average youth ,live a high pressured lifestyle because they socialise with delinquants 

Situationally Limitted = they only offend when uder the influence of alcohol and drugs 

• AIM:

-To test a range of factors which are the most significant predictors of criminal behaviour.

SAMPLE:

-Nearly 2000 14-15 year olds from 13 state schools in the Petersborough area.

METHOD/PROCEDURE: 

-Cross selectional snapshot study , using interview data collection. 

RESULTS:

1. 44.8% of males and 30.6% of females have commited atlest one crime eg theft , violance, vandalism, shoplifting. During the year 2000 
2. 9.8% of the males and 3.8% of the females have commited a serious crime eg burglary 
3. high frequency offenders tend to commit a wide range of crimes 
4. offenders are often more victimised than non offenders 
5. offenders are more often drunk and and on drugs than non offenders. 

EXPLINATORY FACTORS :

• family and social position 
• indevidual characteristics 
• social situation 
• lifestyle routine activities 
• community context 

-Of theese the most important were the youths indevidual characteristics and the way they lived their lives. 

-Youths with many risk factors offend frequently. Whilst youths with many protective factors tend to not offend often. 

KEY RISK FACTORS 

• weak family bonds 
• poor parenting 
• low levels of shame 
• poor self controll 

CONCLUSIONS; 3 groups of offenders .

Propensity- Induced = theese youths ahve enduring prophencyty to offend , because of their personality or chracteristics ( theese tend to have high risk factors 

Lifestyle dependant = they are average youth ,live a high pressured lifestyle because they socialise with delinquants 

Situationally Limitted = they only offend when uder the influence of alcohol and drugs 

• AIM:

-To test a range of factors which are the most significant predictors of criminal behaviour.

SAMPLE:

-Nearly 2000 14-15 year olds from 13 state schools in the Petersborough area.

METHOD/PROCEDURE: 

-Cross selectional snapshot study , using interview data collection. 

RESULTS:

1. 44.8% of males and 30.6% of females have commited atlest one crime eg theft , violance, vandalism, shoplifting. During the year 2000 
2. 9.8% of the males and 3.8% of the females have commited a serious crime eg burglary 
3. high frequency offenders tend to commit a wide range of crimes 
4. offenders are often more victimised than non offenders 
5. offenders are more often drunk and and on drugs than non offenders.