RT Article
T1 Early Perceptions, Enduring Consequences: How School Safety Concerns Shape Criminal Trajectories Through Developmental Pathways
JF Journal of developmental and life-course criminology
VO 11
IS 1
SP 230
OP 253
A1 Baltimore, Vaun
A1 Davis, Rachel
A1 Orak, Ugur
A1 Solakoglu, Leyla
A1 Davenport, Chloe
A2 Davis, Rachel
A2 Orak, Ugur
A2 Solakoglu, Leyla
A2 Davenport, Chloe
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1949547434
AB This study examines the relationship between school safety perceptions and criminal behavior, as well as the mechanisms that explain this relationship over the life course. Using data from Waves I, II, and V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we investigated the association between school safety concerns at Wave I and the odds of criminal offending in both the short term (Wave II, n = 10,079) and long term (Wave V, n = 6,921). Logistic regression analyses revealed that higher concerns about school safety were associated with 14% and 16% increased odds of criminal offending at Waves II and V, respectively. Mediation analyses further demonstrated that low school attachment, low self-control, and depressive symptoms partially mediated this association in the short term, while low self-control and attainment of a college degree partially mediated the long-term relationship. Our findings suggest that concerns about school safety can shape criminal trajectories via reduced self-control, lack of school attachment, increased psychological distress, and lower educational attainment. These results underscore the importance of fostering a sense of safety within educational environments to mitigate the risk of criminal offending both during adolescence and into adulthood.
K1 Criminal trajectories
K1 Developmental pathways
K1 Life-Course criminology
K1 Longitudinal Study
K1 School Safety
DO 10.1007/s40865-025-00288-3