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Race, Local Life Circumstances, and Criminal Activity

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  • Alex R. Piquero
  • John M. MacDonald
  • Karen F. Parker

Abstract

Objective. Life–course researchers suggest that changes in local life circumstances explain changes in criminal activity in adulthood. Although the extent to which local life circumstances propel offenders toward/away from criminal behavior is a subject of considerable debate, the issue of race has largely been ignored. The objective in this research is to incorporate race into a life–course perspective that examines the influence of changes in life circumstances on changes in criminal activity. Methods. This objective is met by using longitudinal data on 524 parolees released from the California Youth Authority (CYA) who were followed for seven consecutive years after release. Results. The results suggest that changes in local life circumstances are related to changes in criminal activity, but do not eliminate the race/crime relationship for violence. At the same time, the effect of local life circumstances on criminal activity appears more similar than different across race, with the exception that common–law marriages are crime–generating among nonwhites as compared to whites. Conclusions. Because race continues to be associated with criminal activity over the life course, future research should increase efforts to better understand how race might condition life circumstances when influencing criminal activity. Implications of these findings for life–course theory are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex R. Piquero & John M. MacDonald & Karen F. Parker, 2002. "Race, Local Life Circumstances, and Criminal Activity," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 83(3), pages 654-670, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:83:y:2002:i:3:p:654-670
    DOI: 10.1111/1540-6237.00107
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Frances R. & Jaffee, Sara R., 2018. "Using three-group propensity score method to estimate effects of relationship status and quality on men's antisocial behavior," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 88-98.
    2. Maxim N. Massenkoff & Evan K. Rose, 2022. "Family Formation and Crime," NBER Working Papers 30385, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Doherty, Elaine Eggleston & Ensminger, Margaret E., 2014. "Do the adult criminal careers of African Americans fit the “facts”?," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 517-526.
    4. Torbjørn Skardhamar & Jukka Savolainen, 2012. "Does employment contribute to desistance? Offending trajectories of crime-prone men around the time of job entry," Discussion Papers 716, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    5. Jennings, Wesley G. & Reingle, Jennifer M., 2012. "On the number and shape of developmental/life-course violence, aggression, and delinquency trajectories: A state-of-the-art review," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 472-489.
    6. O'Connell, Daniel J., 2003. "Investigating latent trait and life course theories as predictors of recidivism among an offender sample," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 455-467.
    7. Gibson, Camille & Roberson, Dominique & Daniel, Angela, 2009. "African American women on the possibilities of a relationship with an ex-offender," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 328-332, July.

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