Interactions and the Criminal Event Perspective

Abstract

Using data from a large sample of adolescents, this research examines the role of interactions in describing a criminal event. The authors test whether characteristics from multiple social settings combine to increase the likelihood of a criminal event. Broadly conceived, the interactions examine characteristics reflecting the residential environments of adolescents in addition to characteristics of family and leisure. The authors find that both structural and cross-level interactions condition delinquency, although not all such interactions are significant for every offense. The findings support the utility of using a criminal events perspective to describe and interpret criminal and delinquent acts.