A demographic diagnosis of self-reported delinquencies is proposed and its utilit 1' is examined. The hipothesis that some delinquency correlates operate differentli lin different demographic categories of lvouth is supported. This finding suggests that researchers should be aware of the possible interaction between causes of' delinquencY and the demographic context in which that causation occurs. For prac titioners, the usefulness of a demographic diagnosis lies in knowing if delinquenci' causes are different in different demograhpic categories of youth.
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