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Extending Deterrence Theory

Do Delinquent Peers Condition the Relationship between Perceptions of Getting Caught and Offending?

Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Robert Agnew

Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Studies suggest that the perceived certainty of punishment has little or no effect on subsequent offending. Some researchers, however, argue that perceived certainty deters offending among some types of people but not among others. This article contributes to this line of argument by examining whether the effect of perceived certainty on offending is conditioned by the individual's social environment, specifically the individual's level of association with delinquent peers. Using longitudinal data from a sample of high school students, the authors find that perceived certainty only predicts offending among youth with no or some delinquent peers.

Key Words: deterrence • delinquent peers

Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol. 45, No. 2, 91-118 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0022427807313702


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