NCJ Number
157291
Date Published
1995
Length
151 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes current criminological knowledge on juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice in Canada, with emphasis on the nature and extent of youth crime, the characteristics of juvenile offenders, the role of deterrence, the impact of criminal justice processing, the operation of the juvenile justice system, and the most effective approaches to prevention and intervention.
Abstract
The analysis revealed that the extent and trends in juvenile delinquency are unclear. However, each year young people commit a small number of very serious offenses. Much youth crime is committed in groups, although groups are not the same in crime. Setting the minimum age of criminal responsibility is difficult due to differing rates of maturing. However, most crime committed by children under age 12 is property crime. Many studies indicate that within a 12-month period, approximately 90 percent of adolescents do things that would be considered crimes, but most of these are relatively minor. However, youthful offenders vary widely. Research findings do not support the idea that most youth think about the criminal justice consequences when deciding whether to commit an offense. In some circumstances, being apprehended may increase the likelihood of future offending. Findings support the need to focus on long-term prevention, use custody only when no other disposition is appropriate, focus programs on broad problems in the school and society, and emphasize long-term programs that include the first few years of life. Tables, appended list of persons providing information, and 104 references