APPLICATION OF OPPORTUNITY THEORY TO DELINQUENCY PREVENTION - EVALUATION OF A CASE STUDY AND CRITIQUE OF THE LITERATURE

• NCJ Number: 15311
• Author(s): W R BURKHARDT
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 161 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. DISSERTATION - WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

Annotation

THE OPPORTUNITY OR ANOMIE THEORY STATES THAT THE CAUSES OF LOWER CLASS DELINQUENCY LIE IN THE RELATIVELY GREATER AVAILABILITY OF ILLEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF CULTURALLY DEFINED SUCCESS GOALS.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THE PROPOSED GOAL OF DEVELOPING NEW AND EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION UNDER THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND YOUTH OFFENSES CONTROL ACT OF 1961 WAS FOR THE MOST PART UNFULFILLED. USING CASE STUDIES OF TWO DETROIT GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS, THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT HOW THEORETICAL PREMISES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE OPPORTUNITY THEORY, ARE NOT INCORPORTED IN DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. REASONS CITED FOR THIS INCLUDE LACK OF COMMITMENT TO PROGRAM POLICY ON THE PART OF ADMINISTRATORS AND UNWILLINGNESS TO TRY TO EFFECT STRUCTURE CHANGE. OTHER UNIQUE APPROACHES OF THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ACT, SUCH AS CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING AND BUILT-IN RESEARCH DESIGNS ALSO WERE NOT IMPLEMENTED. THE AUTHOR FURTHER CONTENDS THAT MUCH OF THE EVALUATIVE RESEARCH THAT IS DONE IS OF POOR QUALITY. IN ADDITION, NEGATIVE FINDINGS SELDOM HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE PROGRAM'S FUTURE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOME JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS MIGHT REDUCE (NOT INCREASE) A YOUTH'S CHANCES OF ABANDONING PATTERNS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHOR ALSO REJECTS THE VALIDITY OF THE OPPORTUNITY THEORY FOR DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, POINTING TO THE LACK OF EMPIRICAL TESTING IN THIS AREA.