NCJ Number
57600
Date Published
Unknown
Length
27 pages
Annotation
USING THREE BIRTH COHORTS TOTALING 811 JUVENILES IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR ONE OR MORE VIOLENT CRIMES, THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES COMMON ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT JUVENILE CRIME AND SUGGESTS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES FOR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
IN ADDITION TO DESCRIBING RACE, SEX, AGE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC DATA, THE SURVEY ARTICLE EXAMINES JUVENILE CRIME VIS-A-VIS THE MONSTER MYTH, THE CHRONIC OFFENDER, DESISTANCE, AGE AND PROGRESSION, DISPOSITION, AND VELOCITY. JUST 22 YOUTHS COULD BE CLASSED AS UNUSUALLY VIOLENT; I.E., 'MONSTERS.' HOWEVER, CHRONIC OFFENDERS COMPOSED ONE-THIRD OF THE SUBJECTS (272 OF 811), AND MANY BECAME CHRONIC (5 OR MORE ARRESTS) BEFORE REACHING THEIR 14TH BIRTHDAY. THE EARLY ONSET OF A FIRST ARREST, FOR WHATEVER OFFENSE, IS RELATED POSITIVELY TO A LONG BUT NOT NECESSARILY SERIOUS OFFENSE HISTORY. MOREVER, THERE IS NO POINT IN THESE OFFENDERS' CAREERS WHEN THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT THEIR VIOLENT CRIMES. OVER 90 SPECIFIC DISPOSITIONS (REPRIMAND AND RELEASE, RESTITUTION, AFTERSCHOOL WORK ASSIGNMENTS, ETC.) WERE GIVEN THE SUBJECTS AND FELL IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: COMMITMENT TO A STATE TRAINING SCHOOL, JAIL DETENTION OR SOME ALTERNATIVE, FORMAL SUPERVISION (PROBATION), AND INFORMAL SUPERVISION (THE OPTION MOST USED). INSTITUTIONALIZATION TENDS TO SPEED UP THE VELOCITY OR TIME TO THE NEXT ARREST FOR EVERY PAIR OF OFFENSES. IN FACT, INCARCERATION REDUCED THE TIME TO THE NEXT ARREST BY 4.81 MONTHS, JAIL DETENTION BY 1.23 MONTHS, AND FORMAL SUPERVISION BY .80 MONTHS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT INTERVENTION MUST NEVER BE NOMINAL; THE MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT AT EVERY STAGE OF A DELINQUENT'S CAREER, THE SITUATION WILL GET WORSE WITH EVERY NEW DELINQUENCY. THE SYSTEM SHOULD IDENTIFY STRENGTHS IN THE CHILD FOR BUILDING GOOD CITIZENSHIP AS WELL AS REMEDY UNSATISFACTORY CONDITIONS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND SOCIALIZATION. THE VERY YOUNG OFFENDER AND THE FIRST OFFENDER OF ALL AGES SHOULD BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE STATISTICAL DOUBT. REALISTIC CONTROL AND CREDIBLE ADVOCACY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE JUDGE TO IMPOSE A GRADED SERIES OF SANCTIONS, AND THROUGH THE CREATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS WHICH TOO OFTEN JUSTIFY LESS THAN SUFFICIENT INTERVENTION. A TOTAL OF 27 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)