AMERICAN YOUTH VIOLENCE - ISSUES AND TRENDS (FROM CRIME AND JUSTICE - AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF RESEARCH, V 1, 1979, BY NORVAL MORRIS AND MICHAEL TONRY - SEE NCJ-63668)

• NCJ Number: 63671
• Author(s): F E ZIMRING
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 41 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ESSAY REVIEWS TRENDS IN YOUTH VIOLENCE AS REPORTED IN POLICE STATISTICS AND CRIMINOLOGICAL STUDIES OF VARIOUS YOUTH POPULATIONS.

Abstract

CENSUS AND ARREST DATA SUGGEST THAT ALL FORMS OF VIOLENT YOUTH CRIME INCREASED AT A GREATER RATE THAN THE YOUTH POPULATION DURING THE 1960'S. SINCE 1970, HOWEVER, ARREST TRENDS HAVE SHOWN STABLE PER CAPITA RATES OF YOUTH HOMICIDE AND RAPE. ROBBERY BY YOUNG OFFENDERS IN 1977 WAS CLOSE TO THE PER CAPITA RATE OF 1970. ONLY THE CRIME OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE 1970'S AND THIS INCREASE MAY RESULT FROM DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF POLICE CLASSIFICATION AND REPORTING. RECENT STUDIES OF YOUTH CRIME HAVE PRODUCED INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE CONCENTRATION, PREDICTABILITY, AND RESPONSIVENESS TO SANCTIONS OF YOUTH VIOLENCE. GEOGRAPHIC AND MORE REFINED SOCIAL STATUS AND ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES MUST BE ADDED TO THESE STUDIES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE ONSET, DURATION, AND INTENSITY OF CAREERS IN VIOLENT CRIME. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJW)