NCJ Number
207285
Journal
International Journal of Police Science & Management Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: Autumn 2004 Pages: 126-135
Date Published
2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This British study examined whether life goals and attitudes differ among young offenders, those at risk of becoming offenders, and nonoffenders.
Abstract
The three study samples consisted of 25 offenders (21 male, 4 female); 25 youth at risk of offending (17 male, 8 female); and 25 nonoffenders (6 male, 19 female). All 75 of the study participants were between the ages of 10 and 17. Part B of the Goal Setting Self-Regulation Questionnaire was modified after a pilot study to leave 54 questions that measure the level of importance youth attach to specific life goals. The second phase of the study involved administering the questionnaire for a second time to only the sample of young offenders (n=20), after they had participated in a course designed to change attitudes and values that fostered their criminal behavior. This study yielded findings similar to those of Carroll, Hattie, Durkin, and Houghton in finding differences in life goals among the three groups. Support was especially strong for the findings that delinquent youth attach more importance to delinquency and freedom/autonomy goals as well as goals related to the achievement of a social image. Nonoffenders, on the other hand, gave more importance to educational and interpersonal goals and goals related to an academic image. Findings related to the effects of the intervention program were inconclusive because of the difficulties of attributing attitudinal and life-goal changes to program elements. A longitudinal approach is recommended for future studies. 2 tables and 32 references