Russian Journal of Economics and Law (Mar 2019)

An Examination of Sibling Impact on Frequency and Type of Arrest Among Chronic Offenders

  • F. P. Abderhalden,
  • S. Z. Evans

DOI
https://doi.org/10.21202/1993-047X.13.2019.1.1073-1091
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1073 – 1091

Abstract

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Objective: to determine the influence of siblings on the frequency of arrests and types of offense among chronic offenders. Methods: general scientific method of dialectical cognition, historical-legal, system-structural, comparative-legal, formal-logical and other specific scientific methods of cognition.Results: Siblings begin interacting with each other in early childhood and often continue to interact on a consistent basis throughout the life-course. Little research has been done on how these sibling relationships impact the development of criminal behaviors separate from parents' influence and direction. Using the California Youth Authority data, this study explores the impact of siblings on chronic offenders' number of arrests and offense type. Overall, the main findings support that siblings do matter in offending behaviors. A few significant relationships were found regarding siblings and chronic offenders, including: 1) greater numbers of sibling arrests are associated with significantly more arrests for the offender, and 2) the number of siblings an offender has results in a significantly lower rate of total arrests for the offender. The results of this study, their implications for future research on sibling relationships and criminality, and the impact on recidivism are discussed. Scientific novelty: the article for the first time studies the influence of siblings on the frequency of arrests and types of offense among chronic offenders. That initiates the discussion on the necessity to view interrelations between siblings as an essential factor in the life of a chronic offender. The study object is interrelations between siblings as the reason for developing patterns of criminal behavior in a family, in particular, among siblings. Practical significance: the main provisions and conclusions of the article can be used in scientific and educational activities while consideration the issues related to determining the influence of siblings on the frequency of arrests and types of offense among chronic offenders.

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