U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Specialization and Seriousness During Adult Criminal Careers
NCJ Number
              116873

Author(s)
          A Blumstein, J Cohen, S Das, S D Moitra
Date Published

January 1988
Length
              43 pages
Annotation
              Focusing on crime-type switching between successive arrests, this study analyzed the evolution of adult criminal careers to detect systematic patterns in the mix of crime types during a career.
Abstract
              The data analyzed covered the arrest histories of 32,197 adults (age 17 or older) arrested during the 4-year period 1974-77 for any of the six most serious index crimes (other than larceny) in the Detroit Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area or in the remaining Southern Michigan region. The basic tool for the analysis of switching patterns was the crime-type-switch transition matrix.  By focusing on the changes in offense types between successive arrests, transition matrices introduce some controls for varying numbers of arrests across offenders. Based on the observed elevated levels of repeat arrests for the same crime type, some specialization was found in all crime types for adult offenders.  These specialization levels were similar across races and jurisdictions, especially within the same State. Specialization was highest in drugs and fraud (especially among white offenders) and in auto theft (especially among black offenders). Adult offenders in all jurisdictions exhibited tendencies toward increased switching among offenses within a cluster and decreased switching between these clusters. Overall, the analyses of offense-type switching over successive arrests for adult offenders provide some support for the presumed worsening of offending during criminal careers. 13 tables, 4 figures, 37 references.
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 1988
    
          Downloads
        
                      *No download available*

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR09353
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Crime analysis
        Cluster analysis
        Pattern evidence
        Adult offenders
        Offenses



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Suppression and Memory for Childhood Traumatic Events: Trauma Symptoms and Non-Disclosure
                  Investigating the Effect of Post-Release Housing Mobility on Recidivism: Considering Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses
                  When Worlds Collide: Linking Involvement with Friends and Intimate Partner Violence in Young Adulthood
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov