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Contribution to Book
Age and Crime
Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment
  • Michael Rocque, Bates College
  • Chad Posick, Georgia Southern University
  • Justin Hoyle, Georgia Southern University
Document Type
Contribution to Book
Publication Date
10-2-2015
DOI
10.1002/9781118519639.wbecpx275
ISBN
9781118519639
Abstract

The relationship between age and crime is one of the oldest known in the criminological literature. This entry describes research on what is known as the “age–crime curve,” first by reviewing recent data, then discussing historical and theoretical work. The entry then discusses policy implications of the age and crime research. These implications differ according to whether one views the relationship between age and crime as a biological “invariant” phenomenon, or as one that can be explained at least partially by social factors. Both social and biological factors likely influence the age–crime curve, and policy should be developed accordingly.

Citation Information
Michael Rocque, Chad Posick and Justin Hoyle. "Age and Crime" Hoboken, NJEncyclopedia of Crime and Punishment (2015) p. 1 - 8
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/chad_posick/69/