NCJ Number
141663
Date Published
1992
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Using data from juveniles appearing in traffic court in Little Rock, Ark. during a 6-month period in 1992, this paper examines the relationship between the demographic background and activities of juveniles and their involvement in potentially delinquent behavior.
Abstract
In Little Rock, anyone under age 18 who is cited for a traffic violation is required to appear in traffic court. The research used data from 343 survey forms completed by juveniles who appeared in traffic court from February until August 1992. The surveys were compared with a control group of 150 high school students. The analysis focused on extracurricular activities, alcohol and other drug use, and the presence of guns and gangs in their neighborhoods and schools. Results revealed no statistically significant difference between those who had gone to traffic court and the control group. Results supported the assumption that data from lower level courts rather than juvenile courts or arrests are representative of the demographics, mundane activities, and potentially delinquent behavior of high school students. Results also indicated that school involvement, the presence of a curfew imposed by parents, gang involvement, and carrying a gun are among the mundane activities that may be used to identify, if not predict, potentially delinquent behavior. Findings also indicated the usefulness of the propositions put forth by learning and control theorists and suggested that potentially delinquent activities may be more important by themselves than they were considered in the past. Footnotes and 35 references