Pic Delinquency Scale

Abstract

This study further evaluated the Personality Inventory for Children's Delinquency Scale (DLQ) in terms of its dual purpose as a measure of delinquent tendencies and as an aid in identifying male and female adolescents who commit serious offenses. The DLQ cutoff scores were supported as identifying nonapprehended adolescents who showed stronger delinquent tendencies, defined as reporting significantly more frequent delinquent acts. The male and female groups scoring above the DLQ cutoff scores were found to report significantly more delinquent acts and to score below the delinquency cutoff scores of the CPI Socialization Scale. The DLQ cutoff scores were not supported, however, as identifying “serious offenders,” defined as those adolescents who reported at least one offense rated as a serious crime.