![Sample our Social Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110822/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Social-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
Empirically, one of the most consistently observed correlations in social science inquiry is that of substance use and criminal behavior. Recently, these behaviors have been examined separately within longitudinal, career-based frameworks. This study assesses the joint distribution of crime and substance use over several years and identifies a number of latent classes reflecting trends in these behaviors. The study data come from a sample of 524 offenders released from California Youth Authority custody. In general, the two behaviors tend to ebb and flow together, but the overall prevalence of substance use over time, absent offending, suggests some degree of independence.
Notes
1Whereas previous analyses utilized substance use as a time varying covariate (e.g., Piquero et al. Citation2002a Citation2002b), we seek to capture the trajectory of this behavior as an outcome and link those developmental patterns to criminal behavior over time. The analytic approach utilized here allows for the construction of longitudinal trajectories whereas previous uses have included substance use as one of a set of covariates.
2For additional information on fit indices in latent class models models see Kreuter and Muthén (Citation2006), Nylund et al. (Citation2006), and Brame et al. (Citation2006).
∘Adjusted for sample size.