NCJ Number
93690
Date Published
1984
Length
174 pages
Annotation
This analysis of male and female juvenile offenders selected from New Jersey training schools found that most offenders were abused and had witnessed family violence. There was also a close relationship between the violence offenders experienced in their homes and violent delinquency.
Abstract
Of the 374 records examined, questionnaires were completed by 224 juveniles -- 182 boys and 42 girls. A subsample of 22 offenders who had reported considerable family violence in their questionnaires was interviewed. Violence in the homes of these juveniles was typically a routine part of life and often serious enough to cause bruises and bleeding. Violence was not always inflicted as punishment, but sometimes was committed irrationally and for its own sake. Offenders were abused mainly by their parents, with fathers and mothers being about equally abusive, but some abuse was influcted by siblings. Female offenders were abused no less often and no less severely than males. Family violence was associated with drug and alcohol abuse, the absence of a parent, and unsatisfactory relationships. A majority of the offenders had been arrested at least once for a violent offense. The more often offenders were abused, the more often they engaged in violence for its own sake. In addition, the more juveniles were abused, the more they ran away and abused drugs and alcohol. These findings suggest that special efforts be made to identify juvenile offenders with histories of family violence and that treatment should focus on helping them gain insight into the connection between their behavior and the family violence they experienced. Moreover, a need exists for cooperative links between juvenile correctional institutions and the protective services community. The report provides approximately 60 references, tables, and the data collection instruments.