title: Age of crime onset and psychopathic traits in female juvenile delinquents.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the role of psychopathic traits in the age of crime onset of female juvenile delinquents. Using a sample of 132 young females from the Juvenile Detention Centers of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and from schools in the Lisbon region, a group of early crime onset (n = 44), a group of late crime onset (n = 44), and a nondelinquent school group (n = 44) were formed. Results showed that early crime onset participants score higher on psychopathy measures, self-reported delinquency, and crime seriousness than late crime onset participants and school participants. Psychopathic-traits scores were significantly associated with age of crime onset, age at first trouble with the law, and frequency and seriousness of crime.
authors.affiliation: University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal ppechorro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pechorro
authors.affiliation: University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui Abrunhosa
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marôco
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics of the University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics of the University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Saul Neves
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Jesus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011174:Portugal; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: crime onset; female juvenile delinquency; psychopathic traits