NCJ Number
26689
Date Published
1974
Length
124 pages
Annotation
A SAMPLE OF 150 YOUNG DUBLIN PROBATIONERS AND A COMPARATIVE SAMPLE OF 57 SCHOOL NON-ATTENDERS WERE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE ON PROBATION.
Abstract
THIS STUDY WAS CONCERNED WITH TWO AREAS OF INQUIRY: IT COMPARED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL PROBATIONERS, AND IT EXAMINED THE TRAITS OF A SAMPLE OF BOYS IN TROUBLE FOR SCHOOL NON-ATTENDANCE, SINCE IT WAS FELT THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN CAUSING RELAPSE AMONG PROBATIONERS WOULD BE MORE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED IF IT COULD BE SHOWN THAT SUCH FACTORS WERE ALSO PRESENT AMONG A SOMEWHAT LESS DEVIANT GROUP OF YOUTHS. THE SAMPLE OF PROBATIONERS WAS DRAWN FROM A GROUP OF BOYS APPEARING BEFORE THE DUBLIN JUVENILE COURT. BOYS WERE INTERVIEWED AND GIVEN A BATTERY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL TESTS. THE SAMPLE OF SCHOOL NON-ATTENDERS WAS ALSO INTERVIEWED AND GIVEN A SIMILAR BATTERY OF TESTS. THE FACTORS INVESTIGATED INCLUDED GENERAL SOCIAL BACKGROUND, FAMILY BACKGROUND, PERSONALITY, INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL AND JOBS, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DELINQUENCY. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THESE FACTORS TO PROBATION SUCCESS OR FAILURE IS DISCUSSED. SUCH FACTORS AS URBAN DETERIORATION, PERSONAL MALADJUSTMENT, SCHOOL FAILURE, AND FAMILY INADEQUACY WERE SHOWN TO BE RELEVANT. THEORIES OF DELINQUENCY SUCH AS THOSE OF CULTURAL DEVIANCE AND THWARTED AMBITION ARE EXAMINED, AS ARE TYPOLOGIES OF DELINQUENTS. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)