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European Journal of Criminology
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Birds of Different Feathers

School Networks of Serious Delinquent, Minor Delinquent and Non-delinquent Boys and Girls

Frank M. Weerman

Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), The Netherlands, Fweerman{at}nscr.nl

Catrien C. J. H. Bijleveld

Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) and Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, cbijleveld{at}nscr.nl

In this article, social network data are used to investigate relationships between 1730 non-, minor and serious delinquent students from lower-level secondary education in the Netherlands. We analyse to what extent students with different delinquency levels are clustered in student networks; how popular and central delinquent students are in their network; and whether gender moderates popularity and centrality. The results show that similarity in delinquency among school friends is moderate and that non-delinquents, minor delinquents and serious delinquents are mixed in school networks. Delinquent students are slightly more popular and central in their networks than are non-delinquents. However, analyses in which same and cross-gender relationships are separated suggest that these differences are mainly the result of cross-gender friendships.

Key Words: Delinquency • Group Processes • Juvenile Crime • Peers • Social Networks

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European Journal of Criminology, Vol. 4, No. 4, 357-383 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1477370807080718
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