Moffitt Goes to Prison: A Longitudinal Assessment of the Developmental Taxonomies After Incarceration

• In Event: Biosocial Criminology’s Progress Continues: More Minds, Data, and Findings

Abstract

In criminology, few theoretical perspectives have been subjected to more empirical assessments than Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy. The results have both supported and refuted various claims made within the theoretical perspective. Notably, while a substantial portion of criminological literature focuses on the developmental taxonomy, few assessments have tested Moffitt’s ideas on snares. As presented, snares are AL offenders who have been subjected to a formal punishment issued by the CJ system (arrested, convicted, or incarcerated). Conceivably, the manifestation of antisocial behavior amongst AL offenders would not substantially differ after becoming involved within the CJ system. Furthermore, the divergences in behavioral patterns between AL and LCP offenders should remain consistent during incarceration. In an effort to advance the understanding of AL and LCP offenders, the current study addresses one fundamental question: Do the behavioral patterns of AL and LCP offenders remain consistent during involvement with the CJ system? A longitudinal measure of inmate misconduct is employed to assess the patterns of antisocial behavior amongst a sample of 88,621 inmates incarcerated in Ohio prisons between 2008 and 2012. Bivariate analyses and longitudinal multivariate analyses are employed, illustrating that taxonomies persist succeeding incarceration.

Authors

• Ian A Silver, University of Cincinnati

• Joseph L Nedelec, University of Cincinnati