Understanding Race/Ethnicity Differences in Offending Across the Life Course: Gaps and Opportunities

Abstract

Race and ethnicity are two of the strongest yet least understood and underexplored correlates of offending. This essay highlights the need for theoretical and empirical research on longitudinal patterns of offending across race and ethnicity so as to expand the traditional focus of developmental and life course criminology. It also uses data from a sample of serious youthful offenders transitioning from mid-adolescence into early adulthood to examine differential patterns of offending across race and ethnic groups. An ambitious agenda for future research concludes the essay.