NCJ Number
75879
Journal
Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: (February 1981) Pages: 523-530
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The relationships between urbanization, sociocultural composition, and juvenile delinquency in Israel was investigated.
Abstract
Census data on 699 Israeli communities was used to compare these factors. Delinquency was concentrated in communities with large numbers of juveniles in the population. Substantial delinquency activity appeared only when the local juvenile group was sufficiently large to support a delinquent subculture. Urbanization was more closely related to delinquency than the other factors by a considerable margin. Juveniles with Asian or African cultural groups. None of the factors, however, had a significant relationship with delinquent activity. Although this study indicates some relationship between environmental factors and delinquent behavior on an ecological level, its results are not appropriate for application to the individual level, where factors affecting the specific person may operate to influence delinquent behavior. Fifteen references are included.