ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on types of behaviour classified as criminal offences, rather than on the wider range of anti-or a social behaviours which would constitute conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder. High quality evaluation research shows that prevention programmes may be effective in reducing delinquency and antisocial behaviour and that in many cases the financial benefits of these programmes outweigh their financial costs. The chapter highlights offending by boys or men, since most criminological research has been conducted with them, and since they are more likely to commit serious predatory and violent offences than girls or women. It reviews risk factors that influence the development of criminal careers. Official records identify the worst offenders and the worst offences, while self-reports include more of the ‘normal range’ of delinquent activity. Offenders differ significantly from non-offenders in many respects, including impulsivity, intelligence, family background and socioeconomic deprivation.
