NCJ Number
52247
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENT YOUTH AND TRENDS IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE EXAMINED IN THIS STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY BEFORE A SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE.
Abstract
OF 338,849 ARRESTS MADE NATIONALLY FOR SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME IN 1976, 28,813 OR 6.1 PERCENT INVOLVED JUVENILES UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE AND 74,715 OR 22 PERCENT INVOLVED JUVENILES UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. ARRESTS DECLINED BY 11.6 PERCENT FOR JUVENILES UNDER 15 YEARS AND BY 12.1 PERCENT FOR JUVENILES UNDER 18 YEARS DURING THE 1975-1976 PERIOD. NATIONAL SELF-REPORT STUDIES OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, INDICATE NO INCREASING TRENDS IN THE INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. REPEATED VIOLENCE IS MUCH LESS COMMON AMONG JUVENILES THAN AMONG ADULTS. RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE VIEW THAT COMMUNITIES ARE WILLING TO TOLERATE A LARGER PROPORTION OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR COMMITTED BY MIDDLE-CLASS AND UPPER-CLASS YOUTH THAN BY LOW-CLASS YOUTH. YOUTH WHO ESCAPE DETECTION ARE GENERALLY MORE DELINQUENT THAN THOSE APPREHENDED. AN IMPORTANT DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC OF YOUTH ARRESTED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES IS THEIR RELATIVELY POOR ABSTRACT REASONING ABILITY AND PLANNING SKILLS. THE INNOVATIVENESS OF MASSACHUSETTS IN HANDLING JUVENILE OFFENDERS IS NOTED. DANGEROUS YOUTH ARE TREATED BY THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES WHERE WORK, THERAPY, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED. DAY SCHOOLS IN MASSACHUSETTS ALLOW CHILDREN TO RECEIVE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT WHILE LIVING IN A FAMILIAR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND TO AVOID INSTITUTIONALIZATION. VARIOUS STUDIES CITED IN THE STATEMENT SHOW THAT MOST YOUTH WHO COMMIT ASSAULTIVE CRIMES ARE NOT DANGEROUS AND THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF YOUTH REQUIRING A SECURE ENVIRONMENT IS SMALL. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. AN APPENDIX PROVIDES DATA ON THE VOLUME OF ARRESTS FOR CRIMINAL OFFENSES COMMITTED BY JUVENILES BETWEEN 11 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE. (DEP)