NCJ Number
70612
Date Published
1974
Length
54 pages
Annotation
A July 1973 survey of 48 juveniles in the Abidjan Prison (Ivory Coast) disclosed that most of the minors valued obedience to parents and did not blame their parents for their problems, but had poor attitudes toward the police.
Abstract
Forty-eight juveniles aged 13-19 answered a questionnaire; 16 of these were also interviewed personally. Over 60 percent were aged 15-17. About 36 percent were not from the Ivory Coast and many had migrated to the city from rural villages to look for work. Sixteen percent had had no schooling and most had had little schooling, although most were literate. Eighty-three percent had been imprisoned for petty theft; 45 percent were from broken homes. The youths' opinions about parents did not deviate from African norms, in which parents exercise much authority and children are expected to obey. Over 80 percent felt that children should obey parents, accept their criticism, and seek their permission before engaging in various activities. Most desired strict parents and did not connect lack of parental affection with their own deviant behavior. However, 89 percent feared the police and most viewed judges as more trustworthy; however, almost all viewed both judges and police as agents of oppression without understanding their job of upholding moral values. Most of the respondents desired good relationships with parents more than good relationships with peers. The study concluded that a desire for, but lack of, a father figure, and dissolution of parental authority greatly contributed to delinquency. Tables, footnotes, and an appendix of the survey instrument are included. For related papers, see NCJ 70605.