Forensic Pathways

Question 1

Which longitudinal studies show that most juvenile crime is ‘adolescence limited’? (1)

Answer 1

Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development

Question 2

What did The Cambridge Study (e.g. Farrington, 2002) do and find? (3)

Answer 2

Studied 411 boys (8/9 yrs of age, in 1961), and still ongoing:
- approx. 20% convicted under 18
- approx. 40% convicted by 40 years of age.

Question 3

What are the predictive factors? (6)

Answer 3

Antisocial behaviour – trouble at school, dishonesty, aggression

Hyperactivity – impulsivity, attention deficit, poor concentration, restlessness, taking risks

Low intelligence and poor school attainment

Family criminality – parents/siblings

Family poverty – low income, poor housing, large family size

Harsh parenting style – lack of supervision, parental conflict, separation from parents

Question 4

What are the three offender groups described by Moffit (1993)? (3)

Answer 4

Adolescence-limited
Life-Course Persistent:

Question 5

What is adolescence-limited? (4)

Answer 5

Offend between puberty and adult status; maturity gap and peer social context; delinquency serves to demonstrate autonomy and affiliation

Question 6

What is life-course persistent? (3)

Answer 6

Begin antisocial activity earlier, more active in their criminal behaviour, diverse in offending, unlikely to desist, more likely to be lone offenders

Life-course Persistent make up 5-8% of the adult population

Question 7

Factors affecting adolescence-limited (4)

Answer 7

Group-oriented activities, relatively minor, status-oriented.
Healthy personalities, average or good reading skills.
Return to non-delinquent behaviour, unless delayed by snares (e.g. drugs, truncated education, unwanted pregnancy).

Question 8

Factors affecting life-course persistent (4)

Answer 8

Peer influences not necessary.
Assumed to rely on subtle innate neuropsychological differences.
Environment contributes too (e.g. poor relations with teachers and peers).
Infiltrates all aspects of life, so reduces chance of reform.

Question 9

What did Kaye, Darke & Finlay-Jones (1998) do in context of excessive drug users? (1)

Answer 9

Studied 400 methadone users in community and prison

Question 10

What did Kaye, Darke & Finlay-Jones (1998) find about primary and Secondary Antisocials? (3)

Answer 10

When drug use preceded criminal activity, individuals labelled secondary antisocials

When drug use followed criminal behaviour: primary antisocials

Primaries were younger, more likely to be male, committed more violent crime, twice as likely to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder

Question 11

Describe the nature features (6)

Answer 11

Impulsivity
Neurological abnormalities and delayed motor development at 3 yrs
Low IQ and reading ability
Poor scores on neuropsychological tests of memory
Hyperactivity
Slow heart rate

Question 12

Describe the nurture features (7)

Answer 12

Teen-aged single parents
Mothers with poor mental health
Harsh or neglectful parents
Harsh or inconsistent discipline
Many changes in primary carer
Poverty and low SES
Rejection by peers