Are There Multiple Paths to Delinquency?

Abstract

Criminological research and theory generally proceed with the orientation, if not the assumption, that delinquency is the result of some series of events common to all delinquents. While some attention has been given to the concepts of typologies, multiple pathways, and different developmental sequences leading to different outcomes, rarely have these concepts been pursued empirically. This paper uses * This research was supported by grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice (Grant No. 86-JN-CX-0006) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (Grant No. RO-DA-05183). Points of view or opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of these agencies. We are indebted to Linda P. Cunningham, Meg Dyer, Amanda Elliott, Linda K. Kuhn, Judy Armstrong Laurie, Deantha Ashby Menon,-Judy D. Perry, and Silvia Portillo, the dedicated research staff, without whom the data could never have been collected, nor the data so meticulously prepared for analysis. ** David Huizinga is a Research Associate at the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado. Over the past several years, he has been involved in research on social problems and currently is Co-principle Investigator of the National Youth Survey and Principle Investigator of the Denver Youth Survey, which are longitudinal studies of the causes and correlates of delinquency, drug use, and other social problems. Recent publications have appeared in Criminology,Justice Quarterly,Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, and Social Science Research. He also recently co-authored Multiple Problem Youth (with Delbert Elliott and Scott Menard). Finn-aage Esbensen is a Research Associate at the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado. He is currently an Investigator on the Denver Youth Survey, a longitudinal survey on the causes and correlates of delinquency, drug use, and other social problems. Recent publications have appeared injustice Quarterly, Quality and Quantity, and the American Journal of Police. He recently co-authored Criminology: Explaining Crime and Its Context (with Stephen E. Brown and Gilbert Geis). Anne Wylie Weiher is a Research Associate at the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado. She is currently involved in a longitudinal research project examining the causes and correlates of delinquency, drug use, and other social problems. Prior research focused on psychological aspects of cancer. Recent publications have appeared in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Medical Anthropology.