NCJ Number
57651
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTAL NEGLECT AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS EXAMINED IN THIS 1976 BRITISH STUDY OF 54 BOYS AND 105 GIRLS LIVING IN A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD.
Abstract
LACK OF CLOSE COMMUNICATION WAS FOUND BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN, SOCIAL WORKERS AND CLIENTS, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY, AND YOUNG AND OLD. THE MAIN RESEARCH CONTAINED SELF-REPORT, SEMISTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS OR QUESTIONNAIRES IN WHICH CHILDREN WERE ASKED ABOUT DELINQUENT ACTS AND THEIR REACTIONS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AGENCY OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR, GAVE THEIR IMPRESSION OF THE CHILDREN'S HOME ENVIRONMENT AND INDICATED WHICH CHILDREN HAD NEGLECTFUL OR ABUSIVE FAMILIES. DATA REVEALED SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BEHAVIOR OF BOYS AND GIRLS. BOYS, ESPECIALLY 11 TO 13-YEAR OLDS, PARTICIPATED IN STREET ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD GIVE WAY TO MINOR DELINQUENT ACTS LEADING TO SHOPLIFTING AND VANDALISM. GIRLS ENGAGED IN MORE LEISURELY ACTIVITIES CENTERED AROUND THE HOME. IN PART THESE DIFFERENCES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE WAYS IN WHICH PARENTS ARE OVERPROTECTIVE OF GIRLS AND LESS WATCHFUL OF BOYS. HOWEVER, THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR FELT THAT AT LEAST 25 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN HAD EITHER NEGLECTFUL OR ABUSIVE PARENTS. SUCH PARENTS DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE DOING NOR DID THEY ENFORCE STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR. HOWEVER, THE CHILDREN DID NOT SHARE THE COUNSELOR'S OPINION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)