title: Prevalence, frequency, onset, desistance and criminal career duration in self-reports compared with official records.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this article is to compare prevalence and frequency, ages of onset and desistance, and criminal career duration, according to self-reports and convictions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, 411 London males have been followed up from age 8 to age 48, in interviews and criminal records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Virtually all males admitted at least one of eight offences, compared with about one third who were convicted. In self-reports, the number of offences was over 30 times greater, the age of onset was earlier and the career duration was longer, compared with convictions. However, the age of desistance was generally later according to convictions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported ages of desistance may be affected by increasing concealment with age. The gap between the first self-reported offence and the first conviction provides an opportunity for early intervention.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Farrington
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ttofi
authors.forename: Rebecca V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Crago
authors.forename: Jeremy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Coid
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D002648:Child; D003416:Criminal Law; D057237:Criminals / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult