KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES REGARDING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AMONG DELINQUENT AND NON-DELINQUENT YOUTH

• NCJ Number: 49347
• Author(s): J M MARKWOOD
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 190 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THE NEED TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM IS EXLORED IN A STUDY OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF DELINQUENT AND NONDELINQUENT YOUTHS REGARDING THE SYSTEM.

Abstract

FINDINGS FROM SURVEYS OF PROFESSIONALS WERE USED TO CONSTRUCT A JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM QUESTIONNAIRE AND TWO SCALES DESIGNED TO MEASURE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SYSTEM AND TOWARD LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR. THE INSTRUMENTS WERE ADMINISTERED TO ALL YOUTHS IN CUSTODY OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DURING JANUARY 1975 AND TO STUDENTS IN EIGHT SCHOOL DIVISIONS, AND SAMPLES OF 186 DELINQUENT AND 186 NONDELINQUENT RESPONDENTS WERE CHOSEN. SURVEY FINDINGS SHOW THAT DELINQUENTS KNOW MORE ABOUT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM BUT HOLD MORE UNFAVORABLE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SYSTEM AND TOWARD LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR THAN DO NONDELINQUENTS. FOR BOTH GROUPS, KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SYSTEM INCREASES AND ATTITUDES WORSEN AS THEY GROW OLDER. FOR DELINQUENTS, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OCCURS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 (OR LESS) AND 14-15; FOR NONDELINQUENT YOUTH, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OCCURS SOMEWHAT LATER. BLACKS KNOW LESS ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND HAVE MORE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES THAN DO WHITES. THERE ARE NO SUCH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES. THERE IS A COMPLEX INTERACTION BETWEEN DELINQUENCY STATUS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SYSTEM IS FOUND, ALTHOUGH THE TREND IS TOWARD A NEGATIVE CORRELATION. THERE IS A DEFINITE POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SYSTEM AND ATTITUDES TOWARD LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM BE INCORPORATED INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS OF LAW-RELATED EDUCATION AND THAT SUCH PROGRAMS BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS. STUDY INSTRUMENTS, SUPPORTING DATA, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)