NCJ Number
45308
Date Published
1977
Length
34 pages
Annotation
DATA ON 618 JUVENILE CASES HEARD BY A DADE COUNTY, FLA., JUDGE BETWEEN JULY 1976 AND JUNE 1977 ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILE CRIME AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN THE COUNTY.
Abstract
A SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS IS FOLLOWED BY AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILE CRIME AND JUVENILE CRIMINALS IN DADE COUNTY AND AN INDEPTH REVIEW OF JUVENILE INVOLVEMENT IN RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES. JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE IDENTIFIED BY AGE, SEX, RACE, AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS. THE EXTENT OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IN THE COUNTY IS ASSESSED, AND PATTERNS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DELINQUENT ACTS ARE EXAMINED. ONLY VIOLATIONS THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED CRIMES WERE THEY COMMITTED BY AN ADULT ARE CONSIDERED. THE REPORT REVEALS DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH INVOLVEMENT IN JUVENILE CRIME FOR BLACKS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW INVOLVEMENT FOR LATINS. ONLY 27 PERCENT OF ALL OFFENDERS ATTENDED SCHOOL REGULARLY. APPROXIMATELY 22 PERCENT OF ALL CASES INVOLVED OFFENSES COMMITTED IN SCHOOLS. THE FINDING THAT THE JUVENILE CRIME RATE IN THE WINTER MONTHS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT IN THE SUMMER MONTHS SUGGESTS THE POSSIBILITY OF A LINKAGE BETWEEN THE PRESSURES AND HOSTILITIES ARISING FROM THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND JUVENILE INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME. THE SPECIAL STUDY OF PRIVATE RESIDENCE BURGLARIES REVEALS CLEAR PATTERNS. JUVENILE BURGLARIES OF PRIVATE HOMES TENDED TO BE COMMITTED BY TWO NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTHS, USUALLY TRUANTS OR DROPOUTS, DURING THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS OF WEEKDAYS. GENERALLY THE PERPETRATORS KNEW THE VICTIM, SPENT LESS THAN 5 MINUTES IN THE HOUSE, AND HAD ENGAGED IN LITTLE OR NO PRIOR PLANNING. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. -- LM