Parental Death and Crime During the Transition to Adulthood

• In Event: Parenting, Parental Relationships, and Life-Course Outcomes

Abstract

Criminological research has focused considerable attention to understanding the impact of negative life events on crime across the life course. Indeed, the literature clearly indicates that experiences such as child abuse/neglect, violent victimization, parental incarceration, school dropout, and romantic relationship breakup, among others, have meaningful implications for crime. As it stands, however, there are important life events that remain either seriously neglected or entirely unexplored. Perhaps the most surprising example is the death of a parent. The current study sets its sights on exploring parental death's effect on crime specifically during the transition to adulthood, with special attention given to both gender and the timing of parent death. Findings and policy implications will be discussed.

Author

• Matt Larson, Wayne State University