Career Criminals in the 1958 Philadelphia Birth Cohort: A Follow-Up of the Early Adult Years

Abstract

This paper identifies career criminals in the 1958 Philadelphia Birth Cohort Study. Descriptive differences are presented according to delinquency involvement and demographic attributes. These data enable this investigation to avoid previous weaknesses by extending the length of the career, the number, and the composition of the research subjects. Based on the findings and limitations confronted in even these extensive data, the paper concludes with considerations for policy and directives for future research.