NCJ Number
59544
Date Published
Unknown
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS INVESTIGATION ATTEMPTED TO IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT THE GROWING FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y., FROM EMPIRICAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES.
Abstract
RECORDS OF 30 PROBATION SUPERVISION CASES INVOLVING FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, WERE ANALYZED. VARIABLES DOCUMENTED FOR ANALYSIS INCLUDED AGE, RACE, RELIGION, INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT, FAMILY STRUCTURE, MULTIPLE FAMILY PROBLEMS, PSYCHIATRIC OR PSYCHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS, BEHAVIORAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL TENDENCIES, SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, OFFENSE(S), FAMILIAL CRIMINAL HISTORY, AND FINANCIAL STATUS. THE AMOUNT OF FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY VARIED ACCORDING TO CONDITIONS IN DIFFERENT TOWNSHIPS.IN SOME MIDDLE-CLASS COMMUNITIES, THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY WAS ONLY 11.4 PERCENT. IN AREAS WITH MORE CULTURAL CONFLICT, POVERTY, HOUSING PROBLEMS, AND GENERAL DETERIORATION, HOWEVER, THE RATE OF FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY VARIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AGE, CULTURE, FAMILY COHESION, SOCIAL DETERIORATION, AND THE QUALITY OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS. MOST ADJUDICATED FEMALE DELINQUENTS WERE YOUTH THAT HAD EXPERIENCED OR WERE EXPERIENCING DESTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENTS. THE PROFILE OF THE FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENT WAS NOT ONE OF A SEVERELY EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED INDIVIDUAL BUT RATHER, AN ANGRY AND DESPERATE INDIVIDUAL LACKING WAYS OF APPROPRIATELY RESPONDING TO LIFE SITUATIONS. THE FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM ON A NATIONAL SCALE IS EVALUATED. EMPIRICAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT AND THEORIES OF FEMALE DELINQUENCY ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SITUATIONAL EXPLANATIONS, DEVELOPMENTAL PATHWAYS, AND OTHER MAJOR THEORIES CONCERNING FEMALE CRIMINALITY AND DELINQUENCY. CASE STUDIES OF FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, SUPPORTING DATA, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)