| Sumario: | A conceptual distinction is drawn between delinquent behavior and official delinquency (apprehended and recorded delinquent behavior). Data from a national sample of 13- to 16-year old boys and girls are examined for empirical evidence of this conceptual distinction. The frequency and seriousness of self-reported delinquent behavior are analyzed for sex, age, race, and socioeconomic status differences. These data are then compared with data on self-reported police contacts and with data found in police and court records. Our findings demonstrate that the distinction between delinquent behavior and official delinquency is indeed useful and necessary: the distribution of official delinquency among categories of sex, age, race, and socio-economic status does not parallel the distribution of delinquent behavior. The data also help to identify the points at which various discrepancies develop in the process of turning delinquent behavior into official delinquency.
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