Early predictors of late onset offenders

In the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, 411 South London males have been followed up from age 8 to age 48. The main aim of this article is to investigate the predictors of late onset offenders: those first convicted after the 21st birthday. The most important predictors were poor housing and low non-verbal intelligence at age 8-10; high anxiety and early school leaving ate age 12-14; and high neuroticism and an anti-establishment attitude at age 16-18. It is concluded that high anxiety and nervousness may have protected children from offending at an early age, because they did not get involved with other children in daring or risk-taking activities. However, the protective effects wore off in adulthood. Low intelligence and attainment were also important predictors of late onset offenders.