Longitudinal Study of Criminal Career Patterns of Former California Youth Authority Wards, 1965-1984

This study was designed to measure changes that occur in criminal behavior as offenders move through life. It investigated the patterns of criminal behavior that occurred over ten to fifteen years for men whose early criminal involvement was serious enough to result in commitment to California Youth Authority (state-level) institutions. The main focus of the study was on changes in criminal behavior as these men moved through their 20s and into their 30s. This study extended and expanded the follow-up data for the study EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF THE CHRONIC OFFENDER, [1978-1980: CALIFORNIA] (ICPSR 8226). Half of the sample from the earlier study was used in the present study, along with smaller samples of adult offenders with no history of state-level commitments as juveniles. These data allow for analyses of adult patterns of criminal behavior and the relationship of the patterns to various explanatory variables. Part 1, Offense Data, contains arrest information covering the period after parole from the California Youth Authority through the date of data collection. Variables include entry and release dates to jail, prison, or probation, the most serious offense and charge, total number of offenses for violent, property, and all crimes, and dates of arrest, offense codes, and number of counts for all arrests. These arrest data incorporate the arrest data contained in EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF THE CHRONIC OFFENDER, [1978-1980: CALIFORNIA] (ICPSR 8226) for all California Youth Authority cases in the current study. Part 2, Arrest Data by Age and Year, contains counts of arrest charges by type of offense (violent or nonviolent) and by age and calendar year. Part 3, Arrest Data for Specific Offenses, contains counts of more specific arrest charges for four-year age blocks (from 18 through 30-plus) for 21 types of offenses, including murder, assault, rape, robbery, burglary, theft, forgery, arson, and drug possession. Variables include months of street time, months of incarceration, and total arrests. Part 4, Prison and Probation Data, contains information on prison or probation terms and arrest and lifestyle characteristics for the year immediately prior to and following jail or prison. Variables include family criminal history, family life, education, entry and release dates, offenses, treatment and training while incarcerated, gang affiliation, psychological evaluation, drug use, employment history, and marital status. Part 5, Social History Data, contains lifestyle characteristics by age and year. Variables include drug and alcohol use, marital status, living arrangements, and employment history. All files contain age and race variables.

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