NCJ Number
15472
Date Published
1974
Length
8 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SEVEN YEAR STUDY IN OREGON TO DETERMINE PATTERNS OF DELINQUENCY OF YOUTHS FROM NONMETROPOLITAN COUNTIES, WITH COMPARISONS OF RESULTS TO A PHILADELPHIA STUDY OF URBAN DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE STUDY FOLLOWED THE CAREERS OF ALL BOYS WHO WERE SOPHOMORES IN 1964 IN 14 RURAL OR SMALL TOWN HIGH SCHOOLS. THE RESULTS INDICATED AN UNSUSPECTED AMOUNT OF DELINQUENCY AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WHEN THEY WERE 16 TO 18 YEARS OLD. TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE YOUTHS HAD AN OFFICIAL RECORD WITH THE COUNTY JUVENILE DEPARTMENT, AS COMPARED TO 35 PERCENT OF THE YOUTHS IN THE PHILADELPHIA STUDY. RATES FOR RECIDIVISM AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE SIMILAR IN BOTH THE OREGON AND PHILADELPHIA STUDIES. COMPARISONS BETWEEN THESE GROUPS COULD ONLY BE MADE TO AGE 18, SINCE THE PHILADELPHIA STUDY HAD NOT YET DESCRIBED THE LATER CAREERS OF THE YOUTHS THEY WERE STUDYING. OFFENSE RATES FOR THE 1964 OREGON SOPHOMORES WERE FOUND TO INCREASE SLIGHTLY DURING THE 5 YEARS AFTER THEY LEFT HIGH SCHOOL. TYPES OF OFFENSE AND RECIDIVISM RATES ARE DISCUSSED. PATTERNS OF DELINQUENCY AND PREDICTORS OF ADULT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SUCH AS AGE AT FIRST OFFENSE ARE ALSO PRESENTED. FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF YOUTHS, RANGING FROM REFORMED DELINQUENTS TO 'CAREER' OFFENDERS WERE DETERMINED, AND EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND CRIMINAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH GROUP WERE IDENTIFIED.