Family, School, Peers, and Recidivism Among South Korean Juvenile Offenders: an Event History Analysis

This study examined the influence of family, school, and delinquent peers as well as demographic and criminal behavior variables on recidivism and the timing of recidivism with a sample of 9,988 South Korean juvenile offenders. Event history analysis was employed to determine not only if juvenile offenders recidivated but, if so, how long after release they committed another crime. The findings indicate that school affects not only the recidivism rates but also the timing of recidivism. Juvenile offenders with low levels of education, low GPA scores, and school absence records were found to be both more likely and more promptly to reoffend than others. This finding is consistent with those of some of the prior studies emphasizing the importance of education in both recidivism and the timing of recidivism. Unlike the previous findings in Western society, however, family and peer-related variables were not found significant in a South Korean sample.