The causes and correlates studies: Findings and policy implications

Abstract

Delinquent behavior has long been a serious and costly problem in American society. Although the U.S. delinquency rate has declined since the mid-1990s, it is still among the highest in the industrialized countries. To reduce delinquent behavior and improve societal well- being, it is essential to develop effective intervention programs. In turn, effective programs depend on a firm, scientific understanding of the ori- gins of delinquency. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Pre- vention’s (OJJDP’s) Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency constitutes the largest, most comprehensive investigation of the causes and correlates of delinquency ever undertaken.