Juvenile Justice in Portugal: How are self-report studies measuring up to official delinquency estimates

This paper empirically discusses the evolution and status of the self-report method in assessing delinquent behavior in Portugal. This paper addresses the methodological criticisms of self-report research and the question of the consistency between self-reported data and official estimates of delinquent behavior in the context of a particular national setting. We review the specific methodological criticisms of self-report delinquency research and the validity and reliability of self-report measures. Using a particular national setting and data from samples of youngsters, we seek to review and compare findings of previous self-report research in Portugal with official data. Have self-report measures been reflective of delinquent involvement? How have any discrepancies between to the two types of delinquency data evolved? The frequency and seriousness of self-reported delinquent behavior are analyzed for differences among several socio-demographic and socio-economic over time. These data are then compared with data on self-reported police contacts and with data found in police and court records.CIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, IE, UMinho (FCT R&D unit 317), Portugal; National Funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) and co-financed by European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) through the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (POCI) with the reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562