NCJ Number
38086
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 378-384
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
IN THIS STUDY, ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CLARIFY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PARENTAL DEPRIVATION, ESPECIALLY PATERNAL, IN THE RECIDIVISM OF YOUNG OFFENDERS.
Abstract
ALL JUVENILE OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO PRISON IN FINLAND IN 1965 WERE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY. PATERNAL DEPRIVATION THROUGH DEATH OCCURRED AS OFTEN IN THE RECIDIVIST GROUP AS IN THE CONTROL GROUP. HOWEVER, RECIDIVISTS MORE SELDOM HAD STEPFATHERS OR ADOPTIVE FATHERS. IN THE RECIDIVIST GROUP, THE FATHER'S DEATH HAD OCCURRED MORE OFTEN IN ADOLESCENCE (BETWEEN THE AGES 12 AND 16) THAN AT AN EARLIER AGE. IT SEEMED ALSO THAT THE FATHER'S DEATH COULD BE CRUCIAL EVEN IF THE YOUNG CRIMINAL CAME FROM AN OTHERWISE NORMAL OR NEARLY NORMAL HOME BACKGROUND. MATERNAL DEATHS WERE THE SAME IN BOTH GROUPS. ON INVESTIGATING THE TIME OF THE MOTHER'S DEATH NO DIFFERENCE WAS FOUND. THE RECIDIVISTS HAD STEPMOTHERS OR ADOPTIVE MOTHERS AS OFTEN AS THE CONTROLS. ON THE WHOLE THE ABSENCE OF THE MOTHER OR THE MOTHER SUBSTITUTE DID NOT SEEM TO BE SO IMPORTANT AS THE ABSENCE OF THE FATHER OR THE FATHER SUBSTITUTE. NO DIFFERENCES WERE OBSERVED IN THE GROUPS IN REGARD TO THE NUMBER OF DIVORCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)