Evaluating Terrie Moffitt's Dual Taxonomy Theory Using Homicide Data: An Analysis of the Age-Crime Curve

• In Event: Offending Trajectories over the Life Course

Abstract

This study proposes to examine the age-crime curve patterns of homicide offenders. It focuses on trends across different age groups to determine if age peaks during adolescence and early adulthood, consistent with Terrie Moffitt’s original dual taxonomy theory. The second objective of this study is to examine if there is a difference between male and female homicide offenders in the age-crime curve, and the third objective focuses on examining the race differences in the age-crime curve. The analyses are based on the national data that came from the FBI’s supplementary homicide reports (SHR) that were reported by law enforcement agencies for a period of forty-two years, spanning from 1976 to 2017.

Authors

• Avdi Avdija, Indiana State University

• Arif Akgul, Old Dominion University

• Jennifer Grimes, Indiana State University