NCJ Number
143784
Date Published
1989
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This survey, undertaken in Brownlow, Craigavon (Northern Ireland), aimed to determine the attitudes of young people toward vandalism, punishment for vandals, and reporting vandalism to the police. In addition, the study investigated the characteristics of vandals, causes of vandalism, and factors related to vandalism among juveniles.
Abstract
A sample of 837 students between the ages of 9 and 14 completed a questionnaire. While most young people thought the major acts of vandalism described in the questionnaire were wrong, certain actions like littering or damaging windows in abandoned buildings were not viewed very seriously. There were some gender and age differences related to perceptions of the seriousness of certain offenses. Factors cited as causes of vandalism included a need for prestige, lack of respect for other's property, copying what friends did, and drinking alcohol. Up to 32 percent of the sample admitted to committing some act of vandalism; those who had vandalized at some point were less likely to view vandalism as very wrong than those who had never vandalized. Vandalism increased with age and was perpetrated mostly by boys; only 8 percent of vandals were frequent truants, and 10 percent of vandals had lived apart from their parents for more than 3 months. The respondents named their parents and police as the most likely sources of influence in their lives, followed by teachers, the Church, and the elderly. Vandalism was often a group effort and occurred during the evening. Recommendations are offered for parents, police/courts, teachers, church, community, admired personalities, youth clubs, council/housing authority, and statutory/voluntary agencies. 28 tables, 3 references, and 1 appendix