Examining the work–crime association in emerging adulthood: A longitudinal analysis based on a Dutch population sample

Abstract

Social control theory links being employed with reduced criminal behaviour. In particular, the indirect social control generated by the perceived benefits of the current job are expected to underlie the work–crime association. Features specific to the emerging adult period, however, call into question the strength of the work–crime association during this new life stage. This study uses data from the Utrecht Study of Adolescent Development (USAD), a longitudinal self-report study among 669 men and women aged 18 to 24 at the start of the study to examine the extent to which working a paid job is associated with reduced levels of delinquency and crime, and the extent to which this association is conditional on individual job perceptions. We also test for gender differences in these associations. Results indicate that for men – but not for women – paid work is associated with lower levels of delinquency and crime, but only from age 24 onwards.

Male antisocial behaviour in adolescence and beyond

“…It is possible that desistance is now delayed by late social maturation. There is evidence that the crime peak has shifted slightly older, but the reasons for this are under debate 82–86 . Moreover, other historical shifts are relevant: the turn of the millennium saw an international drop in crime rates 87,88 , particularly in teens 82 .…”

Facilitating Desistance from Aggression and Crime

“…Research on the work-crime association in emerging adulthood is characterized by mixed results for female offenders. For example, longitudinal analyses based on a Dutch general population sample, which started at age 18-24 and followed more than 600 males and females until age 28-31, showed that, for young women, paid work is not associated with lower levels of delinquency and crime (Wensveen et al, 2017). In this study, delinquency was an overall score based on self-reports, and females had very low delinquency rates.…”

Post-Release Source of Income and Convictions of Formerly Incarcerated Adults

“…Only one study among formerly incarcerated adults examined heterogeneity in the source of income-crime relationship, and this study has not found differences in the effect of income on crime between males or females (Makarios et al, 2010). Nevertheless, several studies on various groups of convicted people other than formerly incarcerated adults showed that the magnitude of the effect of employment (Verbruggen et al, 2015; Wensveen et al, 2017) and receiving social benefits (Verbruggen et al, 2015) on crime is larger for males than for females. Furthermore, employment was found especially beneficial to older convicted people (Sampson & Laub, 1993; Uggen, 2000; Wensveen et al, 2017).…”

“…Nevertheless, several studies on various groups of convicted people other than formerly incarcerated adults showed that the magnitude of the effect of employment (Verbruggen et al, 2015; Wensveen et al, 2017) and receiving social benefits (Verbruggen et al, 2015) on crime is larger for males than for females. Furthermore, employment was found especially beneficial to older convicted people (Sampson & Laub, 1993; Uggen, 2000; Wensveen et al, 2017). A recent study conducted among a high-risk sample, however, indicated that the association between job quality and offending did not differ by sex or age (Jaynes, 2020).…”