The Influence of Family Form and Stability on Criminal Behavior by Minors

Abstract

There appears to be a universal correlation between family form, formation, and stability and criminal behavior by minors. This paper reviews the conceptual and empirical literature investigating the evidence of casual connections between families and juvenile delinquency in two respects: (1) the stability of the family (conflict, dysfunction, breakup, etc.); and (2) the form of the family (married, cohabitants, same-sex, etc). The data reviewed are from studies in North America and Western Europe but the conclusions are not connected to a particular nation or society.

Keywords: family, stability, instability, minors, juveniles, delinquency, criminal, behavior, same-sex