NCJ Number
117812
Date Published
1983
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Based on data from an evaluation of Part I of the Violent Juvenile Offender Research and Development Program, a four-site community reintegration program for violent juveniles, this study examines the delinquent careers of chronically violent youths by using both official records and self-report data to describe their offense histories and violent crimes.
Abstract
Data cover frequency and seriousness of arrests and adjudications, crime specialization, self-reported delinquency and violence, and several key factors in the youth's home and community situation. Data are for juveniles randomly assigned to experimental or control groups between February 1, 1982, and November 30, 1982. The number of chronically violent youth analyzed was 47. The youths participated in a large volume of crime as measured by both official and self-report records. The youths were apparently not violent-crime specialists, as they averaged seven petitions and just over two adjudications for nonperson-related offenses and reported participating in a wide range of property crimes. The youths did, however, repeatedly commit violent offenses (averaging almost four petitions and three adjudications for felonious violent crimes against the person) and according to self-reports engaged in a wide range of violent offenses. Violent crime did not result from an escalation from other types of offenses. Schools were a much more frequent target of and setting for delinquent and violent acts than the youths' workplaces. 9 tables, 9 references.