How school and education impact the development of criminal and antisocial behavior

Abstract

Much of the recent research on developmental perspectives has not thoroughly analyzed the significant impact of schools and education on criminal and antisocial behavior. While there have been many examinations of how antisocial behavior and delinquency are related to schooling and somewhat fewer that have assessed the influence of education itself, there is very little research examining the role of schools and education from a developmental perspective. This chapter will review the role of different school- and education-related factors for explaining delinquency and other problematic behaviors, such as disorderly conduct in school, academic achievement problems, after-school deviance, and poor school climate from a developmental angle. Specific policy and research recommendations are also made.