NCJ Number
90442
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 65 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1982) Pages: 281-287
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
To assess the influence of different types of penalties upon the subsequent recidivism of convicted juveniles, a study compared the records of 181 releasees from a juvenile correctional institution and of 179 ex-probationers.
Abstract
Both subject groups completed their sentences during 1972-1973 in Bremen, West Germany, and their records were reviewed for the subsequent 6-year period. Recidivism was considered as any renewed entry in subjects' criminal records; various risk factors of social maladjustment in subjects' backgrounds were also considered. The latter included illegitimate birth, loss of principal supporting adult in childhood, number of siblings, parental occupation, education, employment, prior criminal record, residence at time of offense, and offense type. The distribution of the risk-factors among both groups was approximately equal, indicating that differences in recidivism are attributable to the type of sentence served. Of the total number of subjects, 78.9 percent recidivated. The percentage of recidivists from the group having served the correctional sentence was 82.3, while only 75.4 percent of the ex-probationers were found to have recidivated. The results indicate that probation as a penalty for juveniles is preferable to institutionalization. Tabular data are provided.