Dirk Enzmann

Self-reported youth delinquency in Europe and beyond: First results of the Second International Self-Report Delinquency Study in the context of police and victimization data

This article reports on the first results of the Second International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-2), a large international collaborative study of delinquency and victimization of 12—15-year-old students. The analysis is based on a subsample of the data set: 43,968 respondents from 63 cities and 31 countries. The prevalence rates of the major categories of delinquency, both for individual countries as well as for 6 country clusters, are presented as well as data for victimization experiences (theft and robbery/extortion). Using different measures, significant differences in level and type of offending are found between country clusters, with the Western European and Anglo-Saxon countries generally (but not always) scoring highest, followed by Northern Europe, Latin American and Mediterranean countries, with post-socialist countries at the bottom. The results for victimization experiences do not follow this pattern. The second part of the article compares ISRD-2 offending and victimization rates with two other main sources of internationally available crime-related statistics: International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS) data and European Sourcebook (i.e. police-based) data. The analyses show a moderate level of support for a convergence of different measures. The article concludes with implications and suggestions for further research.

The many faces of youth crime : contrasting theoretical perspectives on juvenile delinquency across countries and cultures

Introduction.- Substance Use.- Delinquency.- Victimization Experiences.- Social Response and Reporting.- Family.- Schools and the Education System.- Lifestyle.- Self Control and Attitudes Towards Violence.- Neighborhood.- Macro-Sociological Perspectives on Individual Problem Behavior.- Theoretical and Policy Implications.

The Generalizability of Self-Control Theory

In the preceding chapters, we made frequent use of Hirschi’s social bond theory, first presented in the classic Causes of Delinquency (1969). This theory argues that delinquent acts are inhibited to the extent that an individual is connected to a conventional life through social bonds – to family, school, and peers; and delinquency results “when an individuals’ bond to society is weak or broken” (Hirschi 1969: 16). Social bonds theory has been one of the most influential and enduring theoretical paradigms in the study of delinquency, both in its original formulation and through more recent revisions.

History and Design of the ISRD Studies

The present volume is the first official publication on the second International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-2), an international collaborative research enterprise with a cross-national description and explanation of juvenile delinquency as its main objective.

Concluding Observations: The Big Picture

This final chapter wants to accomplish three objectives. First, we provide an overview of the main findings of the study. Then, in order to place our findings in a wider theoretical context, we report on the results of a multilevel analysis of the data. The central question in the multilevel analysis is to determine if there are similarities or differences between the ISRD countries in terms of the influence of the variables associated with the four main theoretical perspectives utilized in this study. The third part of the chapter speculates about the implications of our study, both theoretically as well as from the perspective of policy.

Synthesis and Outlook

The contributions in this book provide a first glimpse into the rich data from our collaborative international study of self-reported delinquency and victimisation. Each chapter stands on its own and tells its own story, albeit with a common core content: Tables of life-time and last year prevalences of offending.

The Impact of Questionnaire Design on Prevalence and Incidence Rates of Self-Reported Delinquency: Results of an Experiment Modifying the ISRD-2 Questionnaire

Based on two samples of juveniles (total n = 1,629), this experimental study explores effects of modifying the design (not the wording) of a self-report questionnaire on prevalences and incidences of delinquency - the core instrument of the second International Self-Report Delinquency (ISRD-2) study. Research questions are: Do rates of self-reported delinquency differ by questionnaire design? Are there differences in item nonresponse? Do these effects differ by person characteristics, especially self-control? Do effect sizes of predictors of offending differ by questionnaire design? Omitting follow-up questions and reversing the response categories no/yes generates higher levels of self-reported delinquency as to minor offenses. Item nonresponse is affected by the design of filter questions and by person characteristics (e.g., low self-control) correlating with delinquency. Although the modifications reduce underreporting, effects of predictors on delinquency do not differ substantially. Nevertheless, more variance is explained using the modified version data.

Social Responses to Offending

Social responses to criminal offending were measured in the ISRD-2 survey in three different ways: (a) by asking victims of robbery, assault, or theft whether (and how many of) the offenses experienced in the last year became known to the police, (b) by asking offenders who reported having committed a certain offense during life-time whether they were detected the last time, and if yes, by whom (parents, teachers, police, and/or someone else); (c) by asking offenders additionally, whether they were punished the last time they committed a certain offense.

Die Anwendbarkeit des Crosswise-Modells zur Prüfung kultureller Unter schiede sozial erwünschten Antwortverhaltens

In kriminologischen Studien, in denen mittels standardisierter Befragungen Personen zu ihren eigenen Gesetzesverstosen befragt werden, ist damit zu rechnen, dass die Antworten von sozial erwunschtem Antwortverhalten beeinflusst sind. Unter sozial erwunschtem Antwortverhalten wird hier verstanden, dass die Befragten versuchen, in einer Weise zu antworten, von der sie glauben, dass sie damit einen gunstigeren Eindruck machen bzw. keine negativen Konsequenzen erfahren werden („impression management“).

Introduction to the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD3)

This introductory chapter presents a brief background to the third round of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD3), an internationally collaborative study of delinquency among 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. The three core objectives of the ISRD are: (1) to measure the prevalence and incidence of offending and victimization; (2) to test theories about correlates of offending and victimization; and (3) to develop policy-relevant recommendations. It briefly discusses the first pioneering efforts of ISRD1 (1991–1992), the efforts of ISRD2 (2006–2008) to further maximize standardization and to extend the number of participating countries, and the inclusion of additional measures and countries by ISRD3 (2012–present). It provides the context for the presentation of the first results of the emerging international dataset consisting of survey results in 27 countries (n = 62,636).