NCJ Number
56132
Date Published
1977
Length
357 pages
Annotation
THE FINDINGS OF INTERVIEWS WITH 43 YOUTHS CONVICTED OF VIOLENT OFFENSES (HOMICIDE, RAPE, ASSAULT, ARMED ROBBERY) IN MINNESOTA ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE TYPICAL INTERVIEWEE WAS 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD, MALE, WHITE, AND FROM A LOW-INCOME, URBAN FAMILY IN WHICH THE FATHER WAS ABSENT. SOME YOUTHS WERE IN JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS, OTHERS IN ADULT PRISON. THE INTERPRETATION OF THEIR COMMENTS IS OF AN EXPLORATORY, DESCRIPTIVE NATURE. IT TOUCHES ON THE YOUTH'S PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR OFFENSES, FEELINGS ABOUT BEING IN PRISON, RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS AND ADULTS, SEXUALITY, ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL AND WORK, LIFE GOALS, AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE FUTURE. THE IMPRESSION THAT EMERGED FROM THE INTERVIEWS IS THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE YOUTHS ARE TREATABLE TO THE SAME EXTENT THAT YOUTHS WHO COMMIT NONVIOLENT ACTS ARE TREATABLE. THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT ACT AND THE NECESSITY OF LIVING WITH ITS CONSEQUENCES MADE MANY YOUTHS REASSESS THEIR LIVES. THIS EVALUATION PROCESS MAY BE AN INDICATION OF THE YOUTHS' WILLINGNESS TO GET HELP AND TO BE REHABILITATED. THE FINDINGS ARGUE IN FAVOR OF A TREATMENT APPROACH RATHER THAN A SOCIAL CONTROL APPROACH IN DEALING WITH YOUTHS WHO COMMIT VIOLENT ACTS. TREATMENT MEANS PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT: (1) PROVIDING YOUTHS WITH LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES AT ALL STAGES OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT SO CRIME DOES NOT BECOME THE ONLY AVENUE TO SUCCESS; (2) REACHING INTO YOUTHS' NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND UNDERSTANDING THEM IN THEIR OWN CONTEXT; AND (3) PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF TREATMENT, RATHER THAN TAKING AN EITHER-OR VIEW. DIRECT QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEWS ARE INCLUDED, TOGETHER WITH A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND COPY OF THE INTERVIEW GUIDE.