NCJ Number
45354
Date Published
1977
Length
107 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPT, EVOLUTION, AND FUTURE OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN QUEBEC ARE EXAMINED, AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED. STATISTICS FOR 1962-1974 ARE GIVEN.
Abstract
THE DEFINITION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY VARIES WITH THE LEVELS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AT THE POLICE LEVEL, IT REFERS TO JUVENILE MISCONDUCT; AT THE JUDICIAL LEVEL, IT REFERS TO VIOLATIONS AGAINST FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL STATUTES. AS A RESULT, THE APPLICATION OF LAWS TO JUVENILES IS INCONSISTENT AND DISCRETIONARY. DURING THE 1960'S JUVENILE DELINQUENCY INCREASED CONCOMITANTLY WITH THE INCREASE IN SIZE OF THE POLICE FORCE AND JUVENILE POPULATIONS AND WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF STATISTICAL METHODS APPLIED IN THE STUDY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S THE INCIDENCE OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY HAS DECREASED OR AT LEAST STABILIZED. IN GENERAL, THE INCIDENCE OF VANDALISM HAS INCREASED AMONG JUVENILES, WHEREAS THAT OF THEFTS HAS STABILIZED. THE RATE OF INCREASE IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN FEMALES HAS BEEN GREATER THAN IN MALES. THE OFFENSES OF FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS ARE MORE OFTEN STATUTORY IN NATURE, WHILE THOSE OF MALES ARE MORE OFTEN CRIMINAL. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE RATE OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY WILL REMAIN STABLE, FOR THE DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF QUEBEC FAVORS SUCH A SITUATION. HOWEVER, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS A WIDESPREAD PHENOMENON; OF ALL ADOLESCENTS, 90 PERCENT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE VIOLATED LAWS. ON THE WHOLE, FEW ADOLESCENTS HAVE ENTERED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND EVEN FEWER HAVE PENETRATED IT DEEPLY. TABULAR DATA ILLUSTRATE THE CHANGES IN THE VOLUME AND NATURE OF JUVENILE OFFENSES AND IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILES AS REPORTED BY THE POLICE COURT SYSTEM. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH. (MGB)