NCJ Number
87643
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1982) Pages: 255-272
Date Published
1982
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study of 200 Tasmanian high school students (102 girls, 98 boys) confirms findings from previous studies that both boys and girls are responsible for a substantial amount of undetected delinquent behavior.
Abstract
The ratio of admitted delinquents was found to be 1.2 boys to 1 girl. Although similar numbers of girls and boys admitted to being involved in delinquent activity, significantly more boys than girls admitted certain kinds of offenses, such as vandalism, assault, driving without a license, and stealing school property from the canteen. Girls only outnumbered boys in admitting to under-age drinking in hotels, shoplifting, attending restricted films, drug offenses, and buying alcohol or tobacco. The results suggest differences in detection patterns, for when degree of delinquency involvement (measured by crime points scores) was controlled, the girls were less likely to be known to the police. Motives were different for boys and girls. Factors associated with delinquent behavior included drinking alcohol at least once a week, smoking, and using marijuana. The self-report study failed to confirm any relationship between delinquency and father's occupation, a broken home, family size, or income level. Study data, 12 notes and about 50 references are supplied. (Author summary modified)