Age

Abstract

Age has a curvilinear relationship with crime and is the strongest predictor of criminal behavior. The likelihood of a person partaking in crime starts low, peaks from ages 16 to 24 years, and then declines. A number of theories are aimed towards explaining why criminal activity peaks during those ages. There are also numerous explanations as to the age of onset, when one starts acting criminal, and the age of offset, or the age that one stops partaking in crime.