NCJ Number
82560
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1982) Pages: 63-75
Date Published
1982
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study considers the relationship between police cautioning of juveniles and their offense and individual characteristics as recorded by the police in one inner city area of Bradford, England, during 1977-79.
Abstract
Since passage of the 1969 Children and Young Persons Act, the cautioning rate has dramatically increased for officially recorded juvenile offenders. The survey covered all juvenile offenders, including those under the age of criminal responsibility, who lived in the area and were detected for offenses between March 1977 and March 1979. In all, 254 different juveniles were included in the study, but because some were handled on separate occasions, the data refer to 293 cases. The survey found that minor offenses predominated, with shoplifting accounting for over one-third of the cases. Only one-sixth of the offenders were female, and approximately three-fifths of the juveniles were first offenders. A total of 7 of the juveniles were under age, 117 were aged 10-13, and 167 were aged 14-16, with 2 apparently over age (17 years old). The study found that the PROS 60 form (the standard reporting form) used by police encourages reporting officers to record their assessments of the juvenile and to include details of the wider family circumstances. It appears that the police decision to recommend a caution is related to both social conditions within the offender's home and the offender's attitude. Implications of these findings are discussed. Figures, tables, and 38 references are provided.