STUDY OF ECOLOGICAL CRIMINOLOGY - THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY RECORDED IN GLOUCESTER (CANADA)

• NCJ Number: 66580
• Author(s): J LAPLANTE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 50 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Solicitor General; Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services
• Corporate Author: University of Ottawa
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: French
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTED JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES OF GLOUCESTER, CANADA, ARE DESCRIBED ON THE BASIS OF DATA FROM THE GLOUCESTER POLICE AND THE JUVENILE PROBATION SERVICES OF THE OTTAWA-CARLETON AREA.

Abstract

THE POPULATION OF GLOUCESTER (SOUTHERN OTTAWA) HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED FOR TWO DECADES BY RAPID GROWTH AND URBANIZATION, WITH 44.5 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION UNDER 19 YEARS OLD. RESIDENTS TEND TO BE ENGLISH-SPEAKING (65.6 PERCENT), CATHOLIC (53.3 PERCENT), MARRIED (48.8 PERCENT), AND RATHER POORLY EDUCATED (ONLY 6 PERCENT WITH POSTSECONDARY DEGREES). THE WORK FORCE OF ABOUT 26,500 EARNS BELOW-AVERAGE SALARIES. GLOUCESTER IS DIVIDED INTO SEVEN COMMUNITIES; STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE MOST JUVENILE DELINQUENTS (40) ARE ARRESTED (AND ON PROBATION) IN THE SOUTH BEACON HILL-CARDINAL HEIGHTS AREA, WHILE THE FEWEST ARE REPORTED IN THE UPLANDS-WINDSOR-KEMPARK AND RURAL AREAS. THE SOUTH BEACON HILL-CARDINAL HEIGHTS AREA ALSO HAS THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND THE GREATEST NUMBER OF ONE-PARENT FAMILIES. THE OTHER HIGH-DELINQUENCY AREAS (CYRVILLE-CARSON GROVE AND BLOSSOM PARK) ARE VERY OLD AND IN COMMERCIAL AREAS OR HAVE A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. THE AREAS LEAST SUSCEPTIBLE TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE MILITARY BASE-CONNECTED, AND HAVE A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, ALTHOUGH INCOMES ARE SOMEWHAT LOWER THAN IN THE OTHER COMMUNITIES. PROPERTY OFFENSES ARE BY FAR THE MOST COMMON (153 OF 173 OFFENSES IN 1976), WHILE NOT A SINGLE DRUG CRIME HAS BEEN REPORTED. JUVENILE INDICTMENTS ARE NOT THE RULE (43 IN 1976, AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN 73 CASES). WHETHER POLICE ARE CALLED IN DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE CRIME, THE PRESSURE ON THE VICTIM TO SEEK COMPENSATION, THE CONTROL POWERS OF INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS, THE EXTENT OF CITIZENS' DESIRE TO HALT ILLEGAL CONDUCT, CITIZENS' ATTITUDES TOWARD JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. POPULATION MAPS OF THE REGION, TABLES, AND A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SOURCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)