NCJ Number
15291
Date Published
1971
Length
213 pages
Annotation
STUDY OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF COMPLAINING CITIZEN, YOUTH OFFICERS, JUVENILES AND ARRESTING OFFICERS BASED ON THE AUTHOR'S PERSONAL OBSERVATION AND JUVENILE ARREST REPORTS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR DEALS WITH BOTH PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE POLICING PATTERNS POLICE-INITIATED AND CITIZEN-INITIATED FROM A SOCIETAL-REACTION OR LABELING PERSPECTIVE. WITHIN EACH OF THESE ENFORCEMENT PATTERNS HE START WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT JUVENILE DEVIANCE IS WHAT IT IS SAID TO BE, BY THE POLICE IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AND BY MEMBERS OF THE CITIZENRY IN THE SECOND. SPECIFICALLY, HE CONSIDERS IN EACH POLICING PATTERN THE IDENTIFICATIONS OR DEFINITIONS OF (A) WHAT ACTIONS ARE SEEN AS CONSTITUTING AN OFFENSE WHEN COMMITTED BY A JUVENILE, (B) THE PERSON(S) WHO ARE VIEWED AS BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR COMMITTING THEM, AND (C) THE EVIDENTIARY CONNECTION EXISTING BETWEEN THESE INDITIFICATIONS. THESE SEEM TO ME TO BE NECESSARY FOCAL POINTS FOR A ROUNDED DESCRIPTION OF THE RANGE OF 'SOCIETAL RESPONSES' GIVEN TO JUVENILE MISCONDUCT LEADING TO A SITUATION OF ARREST. IN A GENERAL SENSE, THIS DISSERTATION TAKES A JUVENILE'S ARREST AS AN OUTCOME OF A SOCIAL EVENT, INTEGRATED WITH SUBSEQUENT EVENTS, IN AN ORGANIZED SOCIAL-CONTROL PROCESS BY WHICH JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE ROUTINELY BROUGHT TO OFFICIAL POLICE ATTENTION. THE SITUATION OF ARREST IS ONE CRITICAL ASPECT OF THIS PROCESS. BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT ARE SOCIAL EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN POLICE STATIONS AFTER ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE, AT WHICH TIME OTHER POLICE OFFICERS DECIDE WHAT DISPOSITION IS TO BE MADE OF EACH CASE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)