NCJ Number
32214
Editor(s)
L S COTTRELL,
A HUNTER,
J F SHORT
Date Published
1973
Length
92 pages
Annotation
EDITED WRITINGS OF ERNEST W. BURGESS ON DELINQUENCY AND IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL DELINQUENTS, FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SUCCESS OR FAILURE ON PAROLE, PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC BY PAROLE PREDICTION, AND CASE STUDIES.
Abstract
THE PERSPECTIVE IS THAT OF THE SOCIOLOGIST, AND HE EXAMINES THE DELINQUENT AS THE PRODUCT OF SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH HIS FELLOWS. HE PRESENTS DATA WHICH INDICATE THAT INCIPIENT DELINQUENCY, AS BEST INDICATED BY BEGINNING INTIMATE ASSOCIATION WITH RECOGNIZED DELINQUENTS, IS THE MOST EFFICIENT PREDICTIVE DEVICE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL DELINQUENTS. ILLINOIS PENAL INSTITUTION RECORDS ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE RELATIONSHIP OF SUCH FACTORS AS PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD, WORK RECORD, MARITAL STATUS, AND PRISON CONDUCT TO THE LIKELIHOOD THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WILL VIOLATE PAROLE. THESE FACTORS ARE COMBINED IN PREDICTION TABLES, WHICH BURGESS SAYS ARE VALUABLE IN DETERMINING IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR PAROLE. THESE EXCERPTS, FROM WRITINGS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1923 AND 1955, ARE PRESENTED IN ERNEST W. BURGESS: ON COMMUNITY, FAMILY, AND DELINQUENCY.