NON-METROPOLITAN DELINQUENCY - AN ACTION PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 896
• Author(s): K POLK
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE INCIDENCE OF YOUTHFUL DEVIANCE IN RURAL AREAS AND SMALL TOWNS IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT PREVENTIVE COMMUNITY ACTION. THIS EFFORT WILL REQUIRE A DIFFERENT FOCUS AND STRATEGY FROM PROGRAMS IN METROPOLITAN AREAS.

Abstract

DEVIANCE IN RURAL AND SMALL TOWN COMMUNITIES IS DIFFERENT FROM CRIME IN URBAN AREAS. YOUTHFUL RURAL CRIME IS GENERALLY LESS SERIOUS AND HAS A LOWER INCIDENCE THAN ITS METROPOLITAN COUNTERPART. MOREOVER, NONMETROPOLITAN DELINQUENT YOUTH ARE MUCH LESS SOPHISTICATED IN THEIR DELINQUENCIES THAN URBAN YOUTH. RURAL DELINQUENTS ARE USUALLY LONE OFFENDERS RATHER THAN MEMBERS OF A DISTINCT CRIMINAL SUBCULTURE FOR WHICH AN URBANIZED ENVIRONMENT IS NECESSARY. A 'TROUBLEMAKING' SUBCULTURE IS NEVERTHELESS RECOGNIZED IN RURAL AREAS, CHARACTERIZED BY A DELINQUENCY PATTERN WHEREBY SCHOOL SUCCESS IS REJECTED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN PEER REBELLION AGAINST ADULTS. FACTORS AFFECTING THE SITUATION OF NONMETROPOLITAN YOUTH ARE CHANGES IN THE WORK WORLD AND THE RURAL MIGRATION TO THE CITIES; RURAL YOUTH ARE UNSKILLED AND ILL-PREPARED FOR BOTH. MOREOVER, THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF RURAL COMMUNITIES POSE OBSTACLES TO RESPONDING TO THESE NEEDS WITH EFFECTIVE COUNTERMEASURES. IT IS BELIEVED THAT SPECIFIC PROCESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY GENERATE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THEREFORE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS BE COMMUNITY BASED. COMMUNITY ACTION SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON REDIRECTING YOUTH TO NEW CAREERS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE GENERAL AREA OF HUMAN SERVICE OCCUPATIONS. APPROPRIATE SUPPORTIVE TRAINING, AS OPPOSED TO FORMAL TRAINING, CAN EFFECTIVELY PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR SUCH ROLES AS TEACHER, RECREATIONAL LEADER, NURSES AIDE AND RESEARCH ASSISTANT. NEW AVENUES FOR PERSONAL REALIZATION CAN THUS BE OPENED FOR ALIENATED YOUTH, PROVIDING THEM WITH SKILLS NEEDED IN METROPOLITAN AREAS OR APPLICABLE AT HOME. UTILIZATION OF THESE YOUTH WILL BE COST EFFECTIVE. A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN OF ACTION IS OUTLINED FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS WILLING TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM. TABULAR DATA AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.