Trajectories of Delinquency and Parenting Styles

We investigated trajectories of adolescent delinquent development using data from the Pittsburgh Youth Study and examined the extent to which these different trajectories are differentially predicted by childhood parenting styles. Based on self-reported and official delinquency seriousness, covering ages 10-19, we identified five distinct delinquency trajectories differing in both level and change in seriousness over time: a nondelinquent, minor persisting, moderate desisting, serious persisting, and serious desisting trajectory. More serious delinquents tended to more frequently engage in delinquency, and to report a higher proportion of theft. Proportionally, serious persistent delinquents were the most violent of all trajectory groups. Using cluster analysis we identified three parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian (moderately supportive), and neglectful (punishing). Controlling for demographic characteristics and childhood delinquency, neglectful parenting was more frequent in moderate desisters, serious persisters, and serious desisters, suggesting that parenting styles differentiate non- or minor delinquents from more serious delinquents.     

Sub-chronic rolipram treatment leads to a persistent improvement in long-term object memory in rats

In the present study the effects of sub-chronic rolipram treatment in an object recognition task in 3-month-old male rats were investigated. Rats remember which object they have explored in a previous trial (T1) when they are tested 1 h later (T2). However, when tested 24 h later, they do not remember which object was presented to them in the first trial. Drug treatments may improve discrimination performance after 24 h, i.e., improve memory for the familiar object. Rats were sub-chronically treated with 0.5 mg/kg rolipram (p.o.) for five consecutive days and tested with a 24 h delay between T1 and T2. Memory performance in the object recognition task was assessed before, during and after sub-chronic treatment. In addition, we investigated whether the timing of the final dose, i.e., 24, 1, or 6 h before training, had an effect on memory performance. During sub-chronic treatment, i.e., after 2-3 days of rolipram treatment, moderate effects on memory performance were observed. Regardless of when the final administration was given, sub-chronic rolipram treatment improved long-term memory performance. Since plasma and brain rolipram levels were undetectable at 24 h before the test, and acute treatment with rolipram 24 h before training had no effects, the observed memory enhancement cannot be attributed to acute rolipram effects. The long-term memory enhancing effects of rolipram might be explained by long-lasting neuronal changes by the chronic treatment due to recurring activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway leading to CREB phosphorylation.     

Officially Registered Criminal Careers of Members of Dutch Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and Their Support Clubs

ABSTRACT

Decisive action against criminal outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) ranks high on the criminal justice agenda. Nevertheless, in many Western European countries the number of OMCG chapters has increased rapidly. Official OMCG support clubs also have mushroomed. The present study extends prior research from the Netherlands and elsewhere by employing a gang database of 1,617 OMCG members and 473 support club members maintained by the Dutch police and examining members’ juvenile and adult criminal careers based on judicial data. While committing an offense was no prerequisite of being included in the database, criminal career data show that the majority of OMCG and support club members is convicted at least once. In addition, we find there is ample variation in both the level and shape of these individual’s criminal trajectories. In line with prior research, the majority of OMCG and support club members are found to be adult onset offenders. A considerable share of both samples however, follows criminal trajectories characterized by early onset, frequent and persistent criminal behavior. Building on prior theoretical accounts of OMCG evolution, these findings are interpreted against the background of recent changes in the Dutch outlaw biker landscape. Implications for the Dutch whole-of-government approach are discussed.