Sociodemographic, delinquency-abuse history, and psychosocial functioning differences among juvenile offenders of various ages

A study was completed comparing the sociodemographic characteristics, delin quency and dependency referral histories and psychosocial functioning of 85 6 eight to twelve year-old, 2,512 thirteen and fourteen year-old and 6,215 fifteen to twenty year-old youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juve nile Assessment Center between May 5, 1993 and December 31, 1995. The resul ts indicate that, compared to older aged youths, the 8 to 12 year-old young sters tend to be ethnic minor*ities, live in mother-headed households of lo w economic status, and have a relatively severe lag between their actual ag e and school grade. The policy implications of these findings are discussed .