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Adolescent Delinquency

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Handbook of Religion and Social Institutions

Part of the book series: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research ((HSSR))

Abstract

The social scientific study of religion on adolescent delinquency is not nearly as old as are popular linkages that have been made between the two, as the quote from Jonathan Edwards above suggests. For both heinous and harmless actions, many Americans—and perhaps many more worldwide—continue to draw connections, both real and imaginary, between diminished religiousness and heightened criminal activity. Intensive media coverage of occasional horrific crimes (such as the Columbine High School tragedy) might infer that the problem of adolescent crime and delinquency is increasing in scope or severity of effect. Although federal statistics do not appear to bear this out presently, fear of crime nevertheless ranks high among Americans’ fears (Romer, Jamieson, & Aday, 2003). Safety inside and outside of schools remains a paramount parental concern (Schreck, Miller, & Gibson, 2003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712

    Mark D. Regnerus

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  1. Mark D. Regnerus
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  1. Department of Sociology, University of Houston, 496 Philip G. Hoffman Hall, Houston, TX, 77204-3012

    Helen Rose Ebaugh

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Regnerus, M.D. (2006). Adolescent Delinquency. In: Ebaugh, H.R. (eds) Handbook of Religion and Social Institutions. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23789-5_13

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