The Role of Different Developmental Experiences

Abstract

Developmental criminologists posit that dimensions of offending such as persistence in criminal offending patterns are important in understanding criminality and should be examined. Patterns of persistence, however, have not generated a great deal of criminological research and the little empirical research that has been conducted on persistence has focused primarily on males. This research advances previous research by examining female persistence patterns in crime. Using data on a sample of 131 females residing in a southwestern prison, the current analysis employs an integrated theoretical approach to understand female persistence. Results from the stepwise logistic regression analysis reveal that prior sexual abuse and association with delinquent peers is significantly related to female persistence in criminality. The theoretical implications of these results are discussed.