NCJ Number
82416
Date Published
1981
Length
175 pages
Annotation
This report presents the proceedings and conclusions of a conference on the role of such institutions as the family, the schools, and employment in the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
The conference participants came from 20 Western European countries. The four major presentations focused on the changing role of the family in relation to the social integration of children and young people, the role of schools in a changing society, the role of youth employment in the prevention of juvenile delinquency, and other influences such as youth groups and pop music in the socialization of children and young people. Common themes in the discussion were the difficulty of considering the family, the school, employment and other agencies in isolation and the difficulty of considering delinquency in isolation from other aspects of society. Other common views were that delinquency prevention programs tended to be unsuccessful, that reactions of criminal justice agencies tended to make juveniles more delinquent rather than less delinquent, that communities should be more tolerant of juvenile delinquency, and that attempts should be made to change existing social institutions rather than to socialize juveniles into them. Major positive recommendations were that parents should be employed part-time so that both can take part in child rearing, that schools should aim to emancipate children rather than socialize them into existing society, that young people should be helped to find fulfillment outside work, and that self-help organizations should be encouraged. Recommendations for further research are presented. Appendixes present bibliographies for the conference presentations, a list of participants, and related information.