NCJ Number
183823
Journal
Theoretical Criminology Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2000 Pages: 208-215
Date Published
May 2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article provides a commentary on Hagan's and McCarthy's study of Canadian street youth "Mean Streets," with attention to how the social experiences of street life contribute to youth crime.
Abstract
A product of nearly 10 years of research, this study breaks new ground in at least three important ways. First, it is a pioneering effort in the social sciences, as it investigates youth delinquency and crime by combining two segments of the youth population that are typically separated from each other: school-based youth who live at home and street-based youth who have left home. Second, the study provides a detailed account of the methodology of conducting such a study. Third, the study views homelessness and delinquency within the embedded life course of youth. Drawing upon social capital and strain theories, the study investigates the street life of youth by studying their lifestyles over time. Hagan and McCarthy consider the extreme situation of street life as a potentially life-shaping experience. To understand such experiences, W.I. Thomas (Volkart, 1951:593) believed that studies should investigate "many types of individuals with regard to their experiences and various past periods of life in different situations" and follow "groups of individuals into the future, getting a continuous record of experiences as the occur." Hagan and McCarthy proceeded along the lines of Thomas' recommendation by designing a panel study of street youth (ages up to 24) in two Canadian cities (Vancouver and Toronto) across multiple data points during the summer of 1992. Overall, "Mean Streets" does a good job of revealing human agency among street youth as they construct their life course amidst limited options. The study also addresses the challenging statistical implications of selected environments. In noting the study's limitations, however, this commentary closes with a discussion of some points of departure for new work in the field. 6 references