Characteristic Perception Patterns and Delinquency-Prone Factors Among Juvenile Delinquents (From Bulletin of The Criminological Research Department, P 10-12, 1988)

• NCJ Number: 117617
• Author(s): R Takeda; T Sato; M Yasumori; F Kashiwagi; H Yoshida; M Ichikawa; S Miyamoto
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Japan

Annotation

This research examined perception and delinquency-prone factors among juvenile delinquents detained in Japanese juvenile training schools.

Abstract

Research subjects included 1,488 inmates ranging from 14 to 20 years of age who were detained in juvenile training schools throughout Japan as of August 1987. The research sample included 1,136 boys and 352 girls. Many inmates had been processed in Japan's Family Court in the past, and 37 percent of boy and 22 percent of girl inmates had previously been committed to juvenile training schools. With regard to offense cause, 59 percent of boy and 50 percent of girl inmates felt it was their own fault. In responding to predelinquent behavior questions, 23 percent of boy inmates pointed out association with bad company and 21 percent of girl inmates noted running away from home. When asked what kind of disposition would be appropriate for juveniles who commit theft, especially shoplifting, most subjects expressed more lenient opinions than the general public. There was a general tendency for subjects' concerns to be focused more on their own happiness than on the happiness of society. Juvenile inmates showed a tendency to resort more often to dangerous or expensive methods of releasing psychological stress than juveniles with no delinquent tendencies. About 70 percent of the inmates felt their future prospects were bright and positive. Research results provide significant findings for improving correctional programs and prerelease curricula in juvenile training schools.