SOCIAL BOND AND CRIMINAL RECORD HISTORY OF ACQUAINTANCE AND STRANGER VIOLENT OFFENDERS

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper contains two studies. First, it examines whether there is a difference in social bond and criminal record histories between intimate, casual acquaintance, and stranger violent offenders. Then, it explores whether social bond variables are predictors of juvenile and adult criminality. Subjects consist of 273 sentenced, incarcerated adult violent offenders for whom retrospective interview and record data were collected. Results of the first study indicate that offenders who victimize intimates are significantly more attached to their wives and have a greater number of recorded adult rape convictions. Offenders who victimize strangers have greater numbers of juvenile convictions and are more likely to have been confined in juvenile institutions. The second study suggests that social bonds to parents and school may be more directly associated with juvenile delinquency. As violent offenders age and develop adult records, other variables such as attachment to wife, intelligence, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and an extensive juvenile record are better predictors of adult offending and may be more indirect measures of the extent of social bonds. Future research could explore more direct measures of social bonds in adult offenders.