NCJ Number
166180
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Survey research on juvenile justice issues is reported that focuses on public attitudes toward crime and violence in general, youth violence, and drugs.
Abstract
The research indicates poor school quality and lack of good jobs for young people are important factors in crime and violence. Many blame youth violence on television and movies, and on lack of parental supervision. People have a fairly strong impression that youth violence is a problem, even if they have not experienced it personally. Many believe drug use is a health problem, while others believe drug use is a criminal problem. Data on solutions for dealing with juvenile offenders suggest Americans are divided as to whether parents should be held legally accountable in some way for crimes committed by their children. Americans are also divided as whether the juvenile justice system should focus on punishment or rehabilitation. Varying levels of support are demonstrated in the survey research for boot camps, prohibiting gun purchases by people under 18 years of age, hiring more police officers, providing social programs and activities for low-income children, and treating juvenile offenders as adults.