NCJ Number
147282
Date Published
1966
Length
141 pages
Annotation
Using a stratified sampling technique, four schools were selected from public junior high schools in Detroit to assess parental perceptions of juvenile delinquency, gangs, and student school performance.
Abstract
Irrespective of race and class background, adolescent boys who perceived their parents to be conventional showed a significant difference with respect to delinquency in the gang and marks in school when compared to adolescent boys who perceived their parents to be nonconventional. On the other hand, when compared to black adolescent boys, white adolescent boys showed no significant difference with regard to delinquency in the gang and marks in school. Adolescent gang delinquency and adverse academic performance could not be explained adequately by the variables of race and class. Parental perception was a relatively more discriminating factor of delinquency in the gang and marks in school. Suggestions for further research are offered. Appendixes contain data on social characteristics of communities in the Detroit area, the study questionnaire, and data on judge rankings of delinquent acts and gang delinquency. 65 references and 20 tables