Risk Factors of Early Adolescence in the Criminal Career of Polish Offenders in the Light of Life Course Theory

Krzysztof Pękala, Andrzej Kacprzak, Anna Pękala-Wojciechowska, Piotr Chomczyński, Michał Olszewski, Michał Marczak, Remigiusz Kozłowski, Dariusz Timler, Łukasz Zakonnik, Kamila Sienkiewicz, Elżbieta Kozłowska and Paweł Rasmus
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Krzysztof Pękala: Department of Medical Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, 90-131 Lodz, Poland
Andrzej Kacprzak: Department of Applied Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, 90-136 Lodz, Poland
Anna Pękala-Wojciechowska: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-153 Lodz, Poland
Piotr Chomczyński: Department of Sociology of Organization and Management, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, 90-136 Lodz, Poland
Michał Olszewski: Department of Management and Logistics in Healthcare, Medical University of Lodz, 90-131 Lodz, Poland
Michał Marczak: Department of Management and Logistics in Healthcare, Medical University of Lodz, 90-131 Lodz, Poland
Remigiusz Kozłowski: Center of Security Technologies in Logistics, Faculty of Management, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Dariusz Timler: Department of Emergency Medicine and Disaster Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 92-212 Lodz, Poland
Łukasz Zakonnik: Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, 90-214 Lodz, Poland
Kamila Sienkiewicz: Department of Management and Logistics in Healthcare, Medical University of Lodz, 90-131 Lodz, Poland
Elżbieta Kozłowska: Department of Microbiology and Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, Poland
Paweł Rasmus: Department of Medical Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, 90-131 Lodz, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Life course theory (LCT) diagnoses childhood and adolescent factors that determine an individual’s involvement in crime in the future. Farrington lists eight key correlates identified by empirical analyses of criminal careers. In this paper, we seek to discuss the inconsistencies with LCT that we observed in our three empirical studies of the criminal careers of Polish offenders. During 12 years of qualitative research, we conducted direct observations and in-depth interviews in juvenile correction institutions (21) and prisons (8) across the country. We gained access to incarcerated (102) and released (30) juvenile offenders, as well as to incarcerated (68) and released (28) adult offenders. We also conducted in-depth interviews (92) with experts working with young and adult offenders. We similarly accessed some offenders’ criminal records and psychological opinions. Our study revealed the strong presence of family and neighborhood influences on early criminality. Contrary to LCT assumptions, state-dependent institutions (military, work, family) were not strong enough determinants of delinquency. Polish offenders generally experience criminal onset later than LCT-oriented criminologists indicate. Based on our data, we also agree with the thesis that the onset of crime should be discussed as different age-related periods rather than just a general onset.

Keywords: life course theory; criminal career; criminology; risk factors; adolescence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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