Delinquency and Non-Reservation American Indians: The Role of Unique and General Predictors of Interpersonal and Property Offending

Abstract

Using a sample of 382 American Indian public high school students, we compare unique (Native traditionalism) and general (parental control and self-control) influences on interpersonal and property delinquency. Results indicate that these 3 predictors more or less independently predict each form of delinquency, suggesting that non-reservation American Indian delinquency is the product of both unique and general influences. Contrary to expectations and most research on reservation delinquency, greater identification with Native traditions is associated with heightened delinquency among our non-reservation respondents. Theoretical and policy implication are discussed relative to the lack of empirical research on non-reservation American Indians as well as the lack of etiological research on the sources of non-substance use delinquency among American Indians, reservation or otherwise.