NCJ Number
161790
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (February 1996) Pages: 99-104
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This survey was conducted in Plymouth, England, to investigate the relationship between juvenile crime and gambling machine use.
Abstract
Of 1,851 Juvenile Forms collected over a 1-year period, 72 (3.9 percent) were identified as having some association between criminal activity and gambling machine use. The 72 juveniles, 67 male and 5 female, ranged in age from 8 to 16 years. Of the 72 cases, 62 involved theft or burglary, 5 involved missing persons, 4 involved criminal damage, and 1 involved a domestic dispute. First-time offenders accounted for 37.5 percent of all cases. Overall, the survey revealed 4 percent of juvenile crime was associated with gambling machine use. A few individuals committed crimes to feed their gambling addiction. Juveniles involved in heavy gambling machine use came from families who were less fortunate, who had strained relationships, and who could not afford to support an adolescent in this form of activity. Case descriptions of five adolescents are included. 9 references and 1 table