Cumulative Risk and Protection, Official Intervention, and Subsequent Delinquency

• In Event: The Impact of Formal Intevention on Subsequent Development and Offending

Abstract

There is a long line of research in the deterrence and labeling traditions that seeks to determine for whom official interventions will have beneficial and deleterious effects. Regarding labeling effects, for instance, prior behavior, gender, race, and stakes in conformity have been examined as key moderators of the relationship between official intervention and subsequent delinquent involvement. While identifying these and other moderating factors is undoubtedly important, there is little understanding if juvenile labeling effects differ for individuals who are comprehensively different with respect to a host of risk/protective factors for justice system involvement. We estimate the effect of official intervention as measured by police contact (and arrest) on subsequent offending focusing on the adolescent years and determine whether this effect varies across individuals who have different propensities for justice system contact. Implications for deterrence and labeling theories and directions for future research are discussed.

Authors

• Allison Fernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Jeffrey T. Ward, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Marvin Krohn, University of Florida