High and low offenders compared

Prisoners with extensive criminal histories were compared with those having a relatively minor history of crime in respect of a large number of variables, in order to evaluate factors associated with recidivism and hence of predictive use. It was found that most of the generally regarded concomitants of delinquency were more prevalent in the high offenders, some much more so. Of special significance were a history of mental illness and prolonged absence from the parental home in childhood.