NCJ Number
9104
Journal
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1973) Pages: 83-92
Date Published
1973
Length
10 pages
Annotation
EMPIRICAL STUDY CONDUCTED TO DISPEL PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE CAUSES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE STATISTICS USED IN THIS CANADIAN STUDY WERE FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES - A LARGE SCALE SURVEY OF REFORM SCHOOLS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURTS, A RANDOM SELECTION OF DELINQUENTS, A GROUP REFERRED BY PROBATION OFFICERS TO PSYCHIATRISTS AS POSSIBLY EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED, AND A CONTROL GROUP OF NORMAL ADOLESCENTS. THE COMMON MYTHS WHICH THE STUDY INDICATED WERE UNFOUNDED ARE THAT ALL DELINQUENTS ARE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED, ALL DELINQUENTS HAVE LOW INTELLIGENCE, ALL DELINQUENTS COME FROM A LOWER CLASS BACKGROUND, POVERTY IS THE CAUSE OF DELINQUENCY, FAMILY BREAKDOWN IS THE CAUSE OF DELINQUENCY, AND ALL DELINQUENTS ARE FUTURE CRIMINALS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MANY FACTORS CAN BE INCLUDED AS POSSIBILITIES INFLUENCING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY BUT EMPHASIZING A SINGLE FACTOR CONFUSES THE PROBLEM. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF THIS MULTIFACTORIAL PROBLEM CALLS FOR TEAMWORK BETWEEN SOCIAL WELFARE, EDUCATIONAL AND CORRECTIONAL GROUPS.