Question 1

Self-report data lead to the clear conclusion that a substantial portion of adolescents report involvement in minor delinquent acts.

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that a significant number of adolescents report involvement in minor delinquent acts, such as vandalism or stealing. Self-report data is commonly used to gather information about delinquent behavior among youth.

Question 2

All forms of data show that minor forms of delinquency are far more common than serious, violent offenses.

Accepted Answer

Multiple studies and sources, including crime statistics and surveys, consistently show that minor forms of delinquency, such as vandalism and underage drinking, are more prevalent than serious, violent offenses like murder and rape.

Question 3

UCR data indicate that violent delinquency is the most frequently occurring category of delinquency.

Accepted Answer

Property crimes, not violent delinquency, are the most frequently occurring category of delinquency according to UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) data.

Question 4

Which of the following is not one of the most common forms of adolescent misconduct according to self-report data?

Accepted Answer

According to self-report data, the most common forms of adolescent misconduct are alcohol and marijuana use, skipping school, and minor theft. Aggravated assault is a serious and violent crime that is not typically reported as a common form of adolescent misconduct.

Question 5

According to Juvenile Court Statistics, what is the most frequent referral category?

Accepted Answer

The most frequent referral category according to Juvenile Court Statistics is property offenses, which include crimes such as theft, burglary, and vandalism. In 2016, property offenses accounted for 28% of all delinquency cases processed by juvenile courts, followed by person offenses at 25%, public order offenses at 23%, and drug law violations at 14%.

Question 6

The different sources of data show that most forms of delinquency have declined since the mid-1990s.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. According to various sources of data, including the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Crime Victimization Survey, most forms of delinquency have been declining since the mid-1990s. However, there might be certain fluctuations in specific areas or types of crimes.

Question 7

Official data and victimization surveys confirm the relationship between age and crime, but self-reports of offending do not.

Accepted Answer

Self-report studies also confirm the relationship between age and crime, showing that offending peaks in adolescence and early adulthood and then declines.

Question 8

The strength of the relationship between gender and crime varies depending on data source and type of offense.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that the relationship between gender and crime is complex and varies depending on the type of crime and the data source being used. For example, men are more likely to be involved in violent crimes such as assault and murder, while women are more likely to commit property crimes like theft and fraud. However, the strength of this relationship may differ depending on the specific study and data source being used.

Question 9

In all types of data, gender differences in juvenile crime are greatest for what category of crime?

Accepted Answer

Studies consistently show that gender differences in juvenile crime are greatest for violent offenses. Males are more likely to engage in violent behaviors than females, and this gender gap is seen in both juvenile and adult crime. While there are still gender differences in other types of crime, they are not as pronounced as they are for violent crime.

Question 10

Self-report data reveal racial differences in the prevalence of offending for both violent and property offenses.

Accepted Answer

Self-report data has consistently shown racial differences in the prevalence of offending for both violent and property offenses. This is because self-report data allows individuals to report their own criminal behaviors, rather than relying on official records or arrest statistics that may be influenced by bias or discrimination. However, it is important to note that self-report surveys also have limitations and do not provide a comprehensive picture of all criminal behavior.

Question 11

Arrest data in the UCR represent the least biased data source for exploring the relationship between race and offending.

Accepted Answer

Arrest data in the UCR are influenced by a variety of factors that can introduce bias, including police practices, racial profiling, and differential enforcement of laws. Therefore, the UCR data may not accurately reflect the true level of involvement in criminal activity by various racial and ethnic groups.

Question 12

UCR arrest data show that African-Americans are particularly over-represented among those arrested for what category of crime?

Accepted Answer

According to UCR arrest data, African-Americans are over-represented among those arrested for serious violent crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Question 13

Only _____________ provide information about the social class of offenders.

Accepted Answer

Self-report surveys are a method where individuals are asked to disclose their own criminal or delinquent behavior. This approach can provide insights into the social class of offenders because it captures offenses that may not be reported to or recorded by the police, thus offering a broader view of criminal behavior across different social strata. Official data and victimization surveys, on the other hand, might not accurately reflect the social class of offenders due to biases in law enforcement practices or reporting.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true regarding the relationship between social class and offending?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that social class has little impact on minor forms of offending, while serious forms of offending may be more closely related to social class factors.

Question 15

The following questions are on Reading 5.1: Puzzanchera (2014).
-UCR arrest data show declines in recent years in juvenile arrests for violent crimes, but increases in juvenile arrests for property crimes.

Accepted Answer

Puzzanchera (2014) indicates that there have been declines in juvenile arrests for both violent and property crimes in recent years, not increases in property crimes.

Question 16

The following questions are on Reading 5.1: Puzzanchera (2014).
-Declines in recent years in arrest rates for violent crime existed for both males and females, and across racial and ethnic groups.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true according to the findings in Puzzanchera's 2014 report.

Question 17

The following questions are on Reading 5.1: Puzzanchera (2014).
-According to UCR data, from 1980 to 2012, arrest rates declined for which type of offense?

Accepted Answer

The article states that arrest rates declined for "burglary, larceny-theft, and robbery" from 1980 to 2012, so all three offense types experienced a decline in arrest rates.

Question 18

The following questions are on Reading 5.2: Zahn et al. (2008).
-The research bulletin on violence by teenage girls relies on which data source to examine trends in girls' violence?

Accepted Answer

The research bulletin on violence by teenage girls relies on all three data sources (official arrest data, self-reports of offending, and victimization survey data) to examine trends in girls' violence.

Question 19

The following questions are on Reading 5.2: Zahn et al. (2008).
-The gender difference in arrests for violent crime widened during the years that Zahn and her colleagues studied.

Accepted Answer

Zahn et al. (2008) actually found that the gender gap in arrests for violent crime narrowed during the years they studied, indicating an increase in female arrests for such crimes relative to male arrests.

Question 20

The following questions are on Reading 5.2: Zahn et al. (2008).
-Like UCR arrest data, self-reports of offending show that female involvement in assault has increased significantly in recent decades.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following questions are on Reading 5.2:...

Quiz 5: The Nature of Delinquency