NCJ Number
65614
Date Published
1979
Length
182 pages
Annotation
THIS 1979 DOCTORAL DISSERTATION ANALYZES THE EXTENT TO WHICH SELECTED JUVENILE SUBGROUPS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY CONCUR IN THEIR JUDGMENT OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE PRESENT STUDY PROVIDES CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE EMPIRICAL GENERALIZATION THAT VALUE JUDGMENTS ON CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE NORMATIVELY STRUCTURED BY DIVERSE SUBGROUPS OF JUVENILES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. QUESTIONNAIRE DATA ON JUDGMENT OF OFFENSE SERIOUSNESS, GATHERED FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FOUR ARIZONA COMMUNITIES, WERE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH JUVENILES CONCUR IN THEIR NORMATIVE BELIEFS ABOUT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE RESULTS INDICATED IS A WIDELY SHARED SOCIAL AGREEMENT AMONG INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF DIVERSE JUVENILE SUBGROUPS. ALTHOUGH NO DIRECT COMPARISON BETWEEN JUVENILES AND ADULTS WAS MADE, THE RANKINGS OF OFFENSES GIVEN BY JUVENILES HERE ARE QUITE SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED FOR ADULTS IN OTHER STUDIES. THIS IS MORE TRUE FOR THE TRADITIONAL CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS AND PROPERTY THAN FOR MORE CONTROVERSIAL VICTIMLESS OFFENSES (E.G., SEX AND DRUG OFFENSES). MATHEMATICAL AND STATISTICAL MODELS AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED WITH SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES CONTAINED IN AN APPENDIX. AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES IS ALSO APPENDED. (LGR)