DELINQUENCY IS STILL GROUP BEHAVIOR! - TOWARD REVITALIZING THE GROUP PREMISE IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE

• NCJ Number: 44021
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 68 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 262-273
• Author(s): M L ERICKSON; G F JENSEN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH22350
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Northwestern University; Williams and Wilkins Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BASED ON DATA GATHERED AS PART OF A LARGER STUDY OF

Annotation

THE PREMISE THAT THE CONTEXT AND MAJOR REFERENTS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR INVOLVE ADOLESCENT GROUPS IS EXPLORED IN AN ANALYSIS OF DELINQUENT ACTS REPORTED BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FOUR SOUTHERN ARIZONA COMMUNITIES.

Abstract

QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO 1,700 STUDENTS FROM 3 SMALL-TOWN AND 3 URBAN SCHOOLS. THE SUBJECTS WERE ASKED HOW MANY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR THEY HAD COMMITTED EACH OF 18 DELINQUENT ACTS, AND HOW MANY OF THESE TIMES THEY HAD BEEN IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE YOUTHS GENERALLY ENGAGE IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR WHEN THEY ARE IN THE COMPANY OF PEERS. HOWEVER, THE TENDENCY VARIES FROM OFFENSE TO OFFENSE. GROUP VIOLATIONS ARE MOST COMMON WITH DRUG OFFENSES AND LEAST COMMON WITH STATUS OFFENSES OTHER THAN DRINKING AND SMOKING. THE FINDINGS CORRELATE IN GENERAL WITH THOSE OF EARLIER STUDIES CONDUCTED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. THE CONCEPT OF THE LONE FEMALE DELINQUENT IS BROUGHT INTO QUESTION BY THE FINDING THAT FEMALES ACTUALLY ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT OFFENSES IN GROUPS THAN ARE MALES. VARIATIONS IN GROUP VIOLATION RATES ARE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE AS EVALUATED BY ADULTS AND BY JUVENILES. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS IN SUPPORT OF THE GROUP BEHAVIOR PREMISE FOR LABELLING AND DETERRENCE THEORIES ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.