NCJ Number
71008
Date Published
1979
Length
101 pages
Annotation
This study examined the incidence of juvenile crime in the relatively benign Torquay district of Britain during 1975, to dispel the myth that juvenile crime is a trivial matter.
Abstract
Official police records and statistics, less formal records, and personal experiences of police officers were used to obtain information about 449 juveniles known to be responsible for indictable crimes. The offenders' backgrounds, the extent of their criminal activity, the commission of crimes in groups, and the age and sex composition of such groups were studied. The value of stolen property and the disruptive effects of victimization were also assessed. The examination of burglaries revealed that 6.5 percent of the offenses involved property worth more than 100 pounds. Most burglaries were committed in dwellings, and 13 offenders stole 76 percent of the property worth nearly 5,000 pounds. One offender caused property damage amounting to almost 1,000 pounds. In addition to the considerable material losses, the disturbing levels of violence involved in these juvenile crimes, as well as the levels of determination and expertise they demonstrate, argue against the triviality of juvenile crime. Moreover, losses in the human dimension were profound, when the victims' psychological suffering and the lack of public or official support were taken into account. The offender characteristics found to be of importance reveal male domination in 77 percent of the crimes, increase in criminal involvement between ages 10 to 16, and occurrence of large family size and below-average family housing accommodations. Children from skilled occupational backgrounds were the major perpetrators of violent acquisitive offenses. None of the youths studied was overtly subnormal or known to be particularly disadvantaged culturally or physically. Implications of the study concern reassessment of society's negligent attitudes toward victimization and the leniency with which juvenile offenders are treated by the law. Footnotes and tabular data are included.