NCJ Number
69058
Date Published
1979
Length
0 pages
Annotation
JUVENILE MURDERERS ARE DISCUSSED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH VIOLENCE AREAS, RECOMMENDED ACTIONS, VIOLENCE AS AN AMERICAN PHENOMENON, AND DETERRENCE PROGRAMS IN CHICAGO AND CALIFORNIA.
Abstract
FIRST, A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, CHARACTERIZES HIGH VIOLENCE AREAS AS THOSE WHERE LIFE IS BLEAK AND IS NOT VALUED HIGHLY, AND WHERE VIOLENT FAMILIES, OFTEN LED BY ONE PARENT, SUBSIST ON LOW INCOMES. HE RECOMMENDS THAT INTERVENTIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON RESEARCH AND PLANNING IN EACH HIGH VIOLENCE COMMUNITY SINCE THE PROBLEMS AFFECTING JUVENILES DIFFER FROM AREA TO AREA; THAT CORRECTIONS, HEALTH CARE, AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES SHOULD COORDINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES; THAT ALL CHILDREN COMING INTO CUSTODY SHOULD BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY SCREENED; THAT CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS SHOULD BE GEARED TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE INDIVIDUALS; AND THAT YOUTHS SHOULD NOT BE RETURNED TO PARENTS WHOSE LIFE STYLES ENCOURAGE DELINQUENCY. THEN, A COMMANDER OF THE YOUTH DIVISION OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINS HOW VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION AND THE AVAILABILITY OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND GUNS IN AMERICA ARE FACTORS IN JUVENILE MURDERS. A SIX-WEEK CURFEW PROGRAM IN A HIGH-CRIME POLICE DISTRICT YIELDED 100 GUNS AND REDUCED CRIME BY ABOUT 65 PERCENT. THE THIRD SPEAKER, A DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY, DESCRIBES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF 137 JUVENILE MURDERS APPREHENDED IN FY 1977 - 1978: 76 PERCENT WERE FROM THE LOS ANGELES AREA; THE AVERAGE AGE WAS 20 YEARS; AND TWO-THIRDS WERE MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS. THE AUTHORITY SENDS ALL JUVENILE OFFENDERS TO A CLINIC FOR A REVIEW OF SOCIAL HISTORIES AND COURT RECORDS, AND FOR FAMILY INTERVIEWS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH UP TO FIVE YEARS OF TREATMENT. SHE REVIEWS THE PROBLEMS ARISING OUT OF THE PROPOSITION-THIRTEEN BUDGET CUTS. THE AUDIOTAPE CASSETTE IS SUITABLE FOR A GENERAL AUDIENCE, AND A TABLE OF CONTENTS IS PROVIDED. NO FURTHER SUPPORTING MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED.