NCJ Number
134663
Date Published
1987
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This self-report study of adolescent offending in Victoria, Australia, included 24 different offenses ranging from minor to moderately serious acts.
Abstract
Ninth grade students were chosen for the research because local inquiries indicated that most contacts between young offenders and the police involved 14-to 16-year olds. Requests to participate in the study were forwarded to the principals of 41 schools throughout the State of Victoria, but only 9 schools responded. The most serious obstacle to cooperation was the apprehension of principals to the questionnaire's sensitivity. The final student sample included 961 individuals, 50.4 percent female and 49.6 male. The anonymous questionnaire asked students to indicate how many times since last Christmas they and their friends had committed the offenses listed. Responses from 906 students revealed that about 12 percent stole from the school canteen, 44 percent stole from another student, 31 percent stole school property, 61 percent damaged school property, and 24 percent were truant. Student responses also indicated that 41 percent stole property from relatives, 34 percent stole goods from a shop, 30 percent committed vandalism, 46 percent traveled on public transport without a ticket, and 56 percent drank alcohol. An examination of the offenses committed by students demonstrated pervasive pattern. Overall, theft was a major occupation of government school students, whereas a smaller segment of private students admitted stealing. There was a clear and positive relation between prevalence of self-reported offending and noncommitment to school. 14 references and 4 tables