A comparison of the medical histories of incarcerated delinquent children and a matched sample of non-delinquent children

The medical histories of a matched sample of 81 incarcerated delinquents and 81 nondeliquent children from the same geographic area were compared. Incarcerated children had significantly more hospital visits, emergency roon visits, and head injuries and were more likely to have been abused than non-delinquents. Perinatal difficulties were more prevalent in the histories of incarcerated delinquents, especially in the histories of violent delinquents. It is hypothesized that a particular combination of biological and psychological factors contribute strongly to the development of serious delinquency.