NCJ Number
44330
Journal
Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 235-262
Date Published
1977
Length
28 pages
Annotation
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DELINQUENT AND NONDELINQUENT MALE ADOLESCENTS IN A SMALL CITY ARE MEASURED IN A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF OFFICIAL INTERVENTION ON YOUTHS.
Abstract
THE OFFICIALLY DELINQUENT SAMPLE CONSISTS OF 119 MALES AGED 14 TO 17 WHO HAD FORMAL CONTACT WITH THE MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE OFFICIALLY NONDELINQUENT SAMPLE INCLUDES 106 YOUTHS WITH NO RECORD OF POLICE CONTACT. POLICE RECORDS AND A SELF-REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE WERE USED TO GATHER DATA ON POLICE INTERVENTION, DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, SELF-SATISFACTION, DELINQUENT SELF-CONCEPT, COMMITMENT TO DELINQUENT OTHERS, COMMITMENT TO FUTURE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE. REGRESSION ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT POLICE INTERVENTION HAS LITTLE IMPACT ON JUVENILES WHEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND, ESPECIALLY, INVOLVEMENT IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR ARE CONTROLLED. THE SEVERITY OF OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY IS THE ONLY MEASURE OF OFFICIAL INTERVENTION TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON COMMITMENT TO FUTURE DELINQUENCY. NONE OF THE MEASURES OF OFFICIAL INTERVENTION IS SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST OTHER DELINQUENTS. HOWEVER, THE SEVERITY OF THE DISPOSITION HAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN DELINQUENT ACTIVITY WITH OTHERS AND ON THE JUVENILE'S ATTITUDE TOWARD POLICE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE JUVENILE'S PERCEPTIONS OF HIMSELF AND HIS ATTITUDES TOWARD OTHERS AS THEY RELATE TO DELINQUENCY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE GROUNDED IN THE EXPERIENCE OF DELINQUENCY INVOLVEMENT THAN IN THE EXPERIENCE OF COMING TO THE ATTENTION OF SOCIAL CONTROL AGENTS, SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).