CITY LIFE AND DELINQUENCY - SUMMARY REPORT

• NCJ Number: 40239
• Author(s): M LALLI; L D SAVITZ; L ROSEN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 0 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-140; NI-71-160; NI-70-027; 73-NI-99-0009
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Temple University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS SUMMARY REPORT PRESENTS THE FINDINGS AND THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF THE DELINQUENCY AND CITY LIFE PROJECT WHICH EXAMINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DELINQUENCY AND THE THREE VARIABLES OF FAMILY LIFE, EDUCATION, AND CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION.

Abstract

SEVERAL COHORTS OR LONGITUDINAL PANELS OF BOYS BORN IN 1957 AND ATTENDING PUBLIC OR CATHOLIC PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS IN PHILADELPHIA, PA., WERE INTERVIEWED WITH THEIR PARENTS. THE DATA WERE ANALYZED TO DISCOVER HOW SUCH VARIABLES AS EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS, SOCIAL VALUES, QUALITY OF LIFE, FEAR OF CRIME, AND VICTIMIZATION AFFECTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AS MEASURED BY POLICE CONTACTS AND ARRESTS. THE STUDY FOUND THAT A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE DELINQUENTS IN THE COHORT HAD BEEN TRUANTS FROM SCHOOL AND THAT DELINQUENCY, IN GENERAL, PRECEDED THE BOY LEAVING SCHOOL. THE MOST GENERAL FINDING REGARDING SCHOOLING AND EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS WAS THAT BLACK YOUTHS WHO WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE ARE SLIGHTLY LESS DELINQUENT THAN THOSE WHO INDICATE THEY WANT TO STOP AT HIGH SCHOOL. OVER TIME THE DIFFERENCE IN DELINQUENCY RATES INCREASES BETWEEN COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL ASPIRANTS. SUCH VARIABLES AS FAMILY SIZE, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC QUALITY OF THE FAMILY, QUALITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT, AND MIDDLE-CLASS VALUES ALL INDICATE A GREATER ASSOCIATION WITH DELINQUENCY, HOWEVER, THAN EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATION. YOUTHS FROM 'BROKEN' FAMILIES (BLACK OR WHITE) SHOW LITTLE OR NO DIFFERENCE IN DELINQUENCY COMPARED TO CHILDREN FROM INTACT FAMILIES. RATHER, WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THE SOCIAL STABILITY OF FAMILY LIFE, FATHER-SON INTERACTION, AND INCOME. THE FINDINGS ALSO INDICATED THAT BEING THE VICTIM OF A CRIME DOES NOT PRODUCE A HIGHER FEAR LEVEL OF ONE'S BECOMING A VICTIM AGAIN. FURTHERMORE, CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION DID NOT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO DELINQUENCY. FINALLY, YOUTHS WHO ARE 'FUNCTIONAL' GANG MEMBERS WERE FOUND TO DERIVE POSITIVE PERSONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE FROM SUCH AFFILIATION. POLICY IMPLICATIONS RELATED TO THESE AND ADDITIONAL FINDINGS ARE OUTLINED.