NCJ Number
137945
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (Autumn 1991) Pages: 393-410
Date Published
1991
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study of the relationship between adolescent crime and homelessness, based on a sample of 390 homeless youth in Toronto, Canada, found that a significantly greater proportion of these young people committed offenses after rather than before leaving home.
Abstract
Anonymous, self-report data were collected during 1977-1978. Youth in both agency and nonagency settings who did not have a permanent residence and who were 19 years of age or younger completed questionnaires. Respondents received $10 worth of restaurant coupons for participating in the study. A total of 21 individual indicators of criminal activity were employed in data analysis; these were divided into five conceptual categories (drug use, drug selling, property offenses, assault, and other). The finding that a greater proportion of homeless adolescents participated in more serious crimes after they left home was reasonably consistent for several crime types. Thus, a significantly greater number of adolescents chose to use hallucinogens and cocaine, steal, and work as prostitutes once they became homeless. The effects of homelessness were not specific to a particular gender or age group, and changes in participation in crime did not appear to be due to the direct effects of background variables. Further criminological research is recommended to focus on the role of situational factors in adolescent homelessness and crime, what aspects of criminogenic situations compel people to commit crime, and factors that place people in criminogenic situations. 46 references and 6 tables