Delinquent Activities Scale (DAS)

Abstract

The Delinquent Activities Scale (DAS) is a 40-item self-report instrument designed to systematically quantify engagement in various specific delinquent offenses and misbehaviors. Developed partially based on the Self-Reported Delinquency Scale (SRD), the DAS provides detailed information regarding the frequency, age of onset, and cessation of these activities.

Crucially, the DAS assesses the specific contribution and involvement of alcohol and drug use (including marijuana) in the commission of these offenses. It utilizes four distinct subscales: predatory aggression, stealing and generalized delinquency, stealing and impulsive delinquency, and drug dealing and aggressive behavior. Furthermore, the instrument uniquely includes measures designed to gauge the respondent’s level of remorse or satisfaction regarding their actions, making it valuable for clinical assessment and predicting potential recidivism.

Keywords

Delinquent Activities Scale (DAS), self-report, delinquency, substance use, alcohol, marijuana, adolescent crime, criminal behavior, incarcerated adolescents, behavioral assessment, psychometrics, remorse.

Authors

Reavy, R., Stein, L. A. R., Paiva, A., Quina, K., & Rossi, J. S.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the DAS is to provide a comprehensive, quantitative measure of delinquent behavior, focusing specifically on the relationship between substance involvement and criminal activity. It aims to quantify the total number of misbehaviors committed over a specified period, while also capturing longitudinal data such as the age of the first and last occurrence of each activity.

Beyond simple frequency counting, the DAS serves as a critical clinical and research tool by differentiating between offenses committed while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and those committed without substance involvement. This distinction is vital for understanding the etiology of juvenile offending and informing targeted intervention strategies, particularly in populations of incarcerated adolescents.

Construct

The DAS primarily measures the construct of Self-Reported Delinquency, operationalized through a wide spectrum of anti-social behaviors ranging from minor theft and disorderly conduct to serious violent acts and drug dealing. The scale is structured to capture not just the commission of offenses, but also the context in which they occur, specifically noting the involvement of substances.

The underlying construct is multifaceted, encompassing four major behavioral domains identified through its subscales: predatory aggression, stealing and generalized delinquency, stealing and impulsive delinquency, and drug dealing and aggressive behavior. Additionally, the final item specifically addresses the psychological construct of remorse, providing insight into the respondent’s attitude toward their past actions.

Validity

The validity of the DAS has been rigorously examined, particularly in high-risk populations. Reavy et al. (2012) focused their validation efforts on incarcerated adolescents, confirming the scale’s utility in capturing the severity and breadth of delinquent activity within institutional settings. The scale’s content validity is strong, derived in part from established measures like the SRD, ensuring that it covers relevant domains of juvenile crime.

The structure of the scale, including its distinct subscales, suggests strong construct validity by differentiating types of offenses (e.g., predatory vs. impulsive theft, drug-related aggression). The concurrent validity is supported by its ability to correlate with other measures of anti-social behavior and substance use, providing reliable data for clinical and research applications.

Reliability

The psychometric properties of the DAS were examined and described by Reavy et al. (2012) in their validation study for incarcerated adolescents. This research provided evidence supporting the scale’s reliability, indicating that the measure consistently captures the self-reported frequency and nature of delinquent acts. Given its foundation in the robust framework of the Self-Reported Delinquency Scale, the DAS is considered a reliable instrument for assessing chronic and varied delinquent behaviors.

Factor Analysis

Factor analytical studies performed during the validation process (Reavy et al., 2012) identified key dimensions underlying the 40 items. This analysis confirmed a multidimensional structure of delinquency relevant to the studied population, leading to the establishment of the following four primary subscales:

• Predatory Aggression
• Stealing and Generalized Delinquency
• Stealing and Impulsive Delinquency
• Drug Dealing and Aggressive Behavior

This factorial structure ensures that the scale provides nuanced profiles of offending patterns, allowing researchers and clinicians to target specific behavioral subtypes rather than relying solely on a single, generalized score for antisocial behavior.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire, behavioral inventory.

Format: 40 items requiring retrospective frequency counts and contextual information (age of first/last use, substance involvement).

Language Available: English (Primary validation language).

Population Group: High-risk youth, juvenile offenders, and incarcerated adolescents.

Age Group: Adolescents and potentially young adults (validation focused on adolescents).

Population Details: Originally validated on a population of incarcerated adolescents, suggesting suitability for clinical and correctional settings.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate whether they have engaged in the behavior (Yes/No), the age of first and last commission, whether the behavior occurred without substances, the total frequency, and the frequency associated with alcohol, marijuana, or other drug involvement.

Keywords

Juvenile justice, substance abuse, crime, aggression, theft, psychometric properties, assessment tool, remorse.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The primary validation study was published in 2012, based on the scale developed by Reavy, Stein, Paiva, Quina, & Rossi. Specific details regarding current licensing fees or explicit permissions for widespread distribution are not provided in the source material and must be sought directly from the authors or the journal publisher (Addictive Behaviors).

Reference’s

Reavy, R., Stein, L. A. R., Paiva, A., Quina, K., & Rossi, J. S. (2012). Validation of the delinquent activities scale for incarcerated adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 37, 875-879.

Elliott, D. S., Ageton, S. S., Huizinga, D., Knowles, B. A., & Canter, R. J. (1983). The prevalence and incidence of delinquency behavior: 1976–1980 (National Youth Survey Report No. 26). Boulder, CO: Behavioral Research Institute.

Elliott, D. S., Huizinga, D., & Ageton, S. (1985). Explaining delinquency and drug use. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

Dembo, R., & Schmeidler, J. (2003). A classification of high-risk use. Crime & Delinquency, 49, 201–230.

Dembo, R., Walters, W., & Meyers, K. (2005). A practice/research collaborative: An innovative approach to identifying and responding to psychosocial functioning problems and recidivism risk among juvenile arrestees. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 41, 39–66.

Huizinga, D. (1991). Assessing violent behavior with self-reports. In J. S. Milner (Ed.), Neuropsychology of aggression (pp. 44–76). Boston: Kluwer Academic.

Huizinga, D., & Esbensen, F. (1988). Common measures of the program of research on the causes and correlates of delinquency. Report to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Washington DC: Huizinga.

Items of the Delinquent Activities Scale (DAS)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Have you ever done any of the following activities? “Number of times alcohol or drugs were involved,” means you were on alcohol or drugs at the time or you were doing the activity in order to get alcohol or drugs to take.

Age first did this | Age last did this | Ever done without alc./drugs involved | No. of times ever happened | No. of times ever happened with alcohol involved | No. of times ever happened with marijuana involved | No. of times ever happened with another drug involved

1. Stolen (or tried to steal) a motor vehicle, such as a car or motorcycle.
2. Stolen (or tried to steal) something worth more than $50.
3. Knowingly bought, stole, or held stolen goods (or tried to do any of these things).
4. Carried a hidden weapon other than a plain pocketknife.
5. Stolen (or tried to steal) something worth $5 or less.
6. Attacked someone with the idea of seriously hurting or killing him/her.
7. Been paid for having sexual relations with someone.
8. Been involved in gang fights.
9. Sold marijuana or hashish (pot, grass, hash).
10. Hit (or threatened to hit) a teacher or other adult at school.
11. Hit (or threatened to hit) your parents.
12. Hit (or threatened to hit) other students.
13. Been loud, rowdy or unruly in a public place (disorderly conduct).
14. Sold cocaine or crack.
15. Sold hard drugs such as heroin or LSD.
16. Taken a vehicle for a ride (drive) without the owner’s permission.
17. Had (or tried to have) sexual relations with someone against their will.
18. Used force (strong-arm methods) to get money or things from other students.
19. Used force (strong-arm methods) to get money or things from a teacher or other adult at school.
20. Used force (strong-arm methods) to get money or things from other people (not students/teachers).
21. Stolen (or tried to steal) things worth between $5 and $50.
22. Broke into a building or vehicle (or tried to break in) to steal something or just look around.
23. Begged for money or things from strangers.
24. Was arrested.
25. Bullied, threatened or intimidated others.
26. Initiated physical fights.
27. Used a weapon (bat, brick, broken bottle, knife, gun).
28. Been physically cruel to animals.
29. Been physically cruel to people.
30. Set fires with the intention of causing serious damage.
31. Destroyed others’ property on purpose (not by fire setting).
32. Lied to obtain goods or favors or to avoid obligations (cons others).
33. Stayed out at night despite house rules not to.
34. Ran away from home overnight.
35. Skipped school.
36. Could not pay bills (loans, child support, etc.).
37. Done something (left school, a job, etc.) before thinking of what might happen if you did it (had no other plans).
38. Got in trouble at work, was late for work, or missed work.
39. Engaging in activities that could be dangerous to yourself or others (speeding, etc.).
40. Of the things we just discussed (theft, damaging others’ property, fighting, etc.), do you feel that you did the right thing and would do the same thing again if you were in the same situations (check one)?

___Not appropriate (rare to check this one!) | ___Probably do the same (probable lack of remorse)

___No, definitely not (definite remorse) | ___Definitely the same (definite lack of remorse)

___No, probably not (probable remorse)