NCJ Number
135821
Journal
Criminologie Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (Summer 1990) Pages: 75-93
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Case histories of two male, 16-year old juveniles implicated in homicides are reviewed, and it is argued that they differ very little from ordinary juveniles.
Abstract
One of the adolescents had participated in a gang assault on a bus passenger who later succumbed to his injuries, while the other had knifed a bus passenger to death. The case histories reveal no unusual previous aggression, though both adolescents had histories of minor delinquent activities. Both offenders deeply regretted the offense and affirmed that they did not intend such an outcome. Neither offense could have been predicted or prevented, and neither of the juveniles can be called a murdered in the true sense of the word. Although both came from broken homes and indicated some insecurity as a result, no single aspect of society or the offender's personality can be blamed for the events. The author suggests that these offenders are examples of a collective failure of society. 9 references