SUBCULTURE OF VIOLENCE - YOUTH OFFENDER VALUE SYSTEMS

• NCJ Number: 48746
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 159-164
• Author(s): J M POLAND
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: American Assoc of Correctional Psychologists
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DIFFERENCES IN VALUES BETWEEN VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS COMMITTED TO THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY'S NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECEPTION CENTER IN SACRAMENTO ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE STUDY SOUGHT TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT HIGH RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME ARE RELATED TO A SUBCULTURE OF VIOLENCE. THE ROKEACH VALUE SURVEY WAS ADMINISTERED TO 55 VIOLENT AND 63 NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS. THE VIOLENT GROUP RANGED IN AGE FROM 14 TO 22 AND INCLUDED 17 WHITES, 21 BLACKS, 14 MEXICAN AMERICANS, AND 3 CHINESE AMERICANS. THE NONVIOLENT GROUP HAD THE SAME AGE RANGE AND INCLUDED 33 WHITES, 18 BLACKS, AND 12 MEXICAN AMERICANS. ALL OF THE SUBJECTS WERE CONVICTED FELONS. DATA FROM THE VALUE SURVEY SUGGEST THAT THE VALUE SYSTEMS OF VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS ARE BASICALLY THE SAME. OF 36 VALUES TESTED, 6 DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY BETWEEN THE GROUPS. THE VIOLENT GROUPS PLACED MORE IMPORTANCE ON BEING LOGICAL AND LESS IMPORTANCE ON HAPPINESS, SALVATION, TRUE FRIENDSHIP, HONESTY, AND HELPFULNESS THAN DID THE NONVIOLENT GROUP. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. NO TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)