NCJ Number
60650
Date Published
1978
Length
224 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT EXAMINES CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN TEXAS, AND ATTITUDES OF TEXAS YOUTH ON SUBJECTS RELEVANT TO DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE FINAL REPORT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE POLICY RESEARCH PROJECT CONCERNING YOUTH IN TROUBLE IS BASED ON RESEARCH CONDUCTED DURING THE 1976 ACADEMIC YEAR BY GRADUATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF THE LYNDON B. JOHNSON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. CURRENT THEORIES ON THE CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE DESCRIBED, BUT NO WORKABLE TECHNIQUES FOR PREVENTION HAVE YET BEEN PRODUCED. A CROSS SECTION OF TEXAS YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 9 AND 18 WERE SURVEYED ON THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD PEER GROUPS, SCHOOL, FAMILY, CRIMINAL OFFENSES, POLICE, AND AUTHORITY IN GENERAL. DIFFERENCES IN OPINION WERE DETECTED BETWEEN YOUTHS ENROLLED IN SCHOOL AND THOSE IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. SEGMENTS OF THE JUVENILE POPULATION REGARDED AS POTENTIAL DELINQUENTS BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, FAMILY PROBLEMS, AND PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES WERE IDENTIFIED. AREAS WHERE PROGRESS COULD BE MADE TO PREVENT DELINQUENCY INCLUDE TREATMENT OF LEARNING DISABILITIES AT AN EARLY AGE AND COOPERATION WITH MEXICAN OFFICIALS IN RETURNING ALIEN DELINQUENTS TO THEIR CUSTODY. EXISTING PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILES IN TEXAS ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. THE REPORT ANALYZES THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT OPERATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN TEXAS, BUT DOES NOT ASSESS ITS EFFECTIVENESS. THE PROJECT DEMONSTRATES THE COSTS OF JUVENILE JUSTICE THROUGH SIX SCENARIOS DEPICTING A VARIETY OF CONTACTS WITH THE LAW, AND DESCRIBES COSTS AS TIME SPENT BY COUNSELORS, POLICE OFFICERS, ETC., USE OF FACILITIES, AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS SUCH AS PHONE CALLS AND MEDICAL ATTENTION. STATISTICS AND PROGRAMS CONCERNING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN MINNESOTA, MARYLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW YORK, ARIZONA, MASSACHUSETTS, OHIO, AND PENNSYLVANIA ARE EXAMINED BRIEFLY. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS ADDITIONAL DATA FROM THE JUVENILE ATTITUDE SURVEY. (MJW)