Gambling Behavior of Juvenile Offenders in Louisiana

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to determine the (1) frequency of and (2) types of prearrest gambling (3) prevalence of pathological gambling and (4)

Age of first arrest varies by gambling status in a cohort of young adults

“…Not only are the current findings of a positive association between problem gambling and arrest among youth consistent with past studies, these findings also are consistent with various crime theories and the problem behavior theory . Problem gamblers, marked by an increased pressure by gambling debts, the compulsive need to continue gambling, and distorted cognitive processes resulting in faulty beliefs of personal skill and probability of winning, could be limited in their ability to rationally weigh the perceived costs and benefits of committing a crime, and thus increase their likelihood of arrest.…”

“…Similar results have been reported in US adolescent populations, where higher frequencies of both gambling and gambling‐related arrests were observed in offender populations than in school samples . Westphal and Johnson compared a group of offenders with a random sample of public school students aged 10–19 years, and found that the prevalence of probable pathological gambling was five times greater in the group of offenders than among the public school students . Other risk factors that may lead juvenile gamblers to commit criminal activities include peer pressure, presence of deviant peers, and needs for financial resources to support gambling activities or to pay gambling debts .…”

“…Evidence from a general adolescent/young adult population survey in Montreal, Canada, estimated that among problem/pathological gamblers 21% had committed illegal activities, and 42% borrowed or stole money to cover debts from family and friends . Similar results have been reported in US adolescent populations, where higher frequencies of both gambling and gambling‐related arrests were observed in offender populations than in school samples . Westphal and Johnson compared a group of offenders with a random sample of public school students aged 10–19 years, and found that the prevalence of probable pathological gambling was five times greater in the group of offenders than among the public school students .…”

“…Gambling is recognized as a behavior that may lead to social, economical, and psychological problems when individuals lose their capacity to control the frequency and severity of gambling activities . Evidence suggest that gambling in youth is associated with poor academic outcomes, substance use and dependence, severe and frequent conduct problems, and even criminal activities . This study investigates the association between gambling status and age of first arrest in a community‐based sample of urban, mainly African‐American youth who completed several annual interviews from adolescence to age 23.…”

“…Most of the evidence of the association between gambling and criminal activity in youth and young populations rely upon studies based on offender populations. Surveys on juvenile offenders conducted in Plymouth, South West England and Louisiana, United States, have estimated that 4–13% of the criminal activities were gambling‐related, the most common being burglary or theft (86%) . Evidence from a general adolescent/young adult population survey in Montreal, Canada, estimated that among problem/pathological gamblers 21% had committed illegal activities, and 42% borrowed or stole money to cover debts from family and friends .…”