NCJ Number
3472
Date Published
1963
Length
133 pages
Annotation
NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF ALL JUVENILES ARRESTED IN FOUR ALLEGHENY COMMUNITIES WERE RELEASED BY THE POLICE WITHOUT BEING REFERRED TO COURT.
Abstract
THE DECISION TO REFER A JUVENILE TO COURT IS BASED PARTLY ON THE OFFENSE, THE POLICEMAN'S INTERPRETATION OF THE COMMISSION OF THAT OFFENSE, AND THE DEGREE OF COMMUNITY PRESSURE APPLIED ON THE POLICE. COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD THE OFFENSE, THE JUVENILE, AND HIS FAMILY AFFECT THE DECISION, AS DO THE POLICEMAN'S OWN ATTITUDES, EXPERIENCE, AND CONCERN FOR STATUS AND PRESTIGE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONCEPT OF DELINQUENCY IS PARTIALLY DETERMINED BY POLICE, IN THAT TWO-THIRDS OF RECORDED DELINQUENCY IS KNOWN ONLY TO THEM. A DISCUSSION OF THE LITERATURE CONCERNING POLICE AS SELECTIVE AGENTS IN THE REFERRAL PROCESS IS INCLUDED.