NCJ Number
19098
Date Published
1974
Length
198 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY CHANGES IN THE NATURE AND FREQUENCY OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, TO ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN CHANGES IN THIS BEHAVIOR, AND TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF VARIABLES CORRELATED WITH DELINQUENCY IN 1972 SAMPLE.
Abstract
THIS REPORT FIRST EXPLAINS HOW YOUNGSTERS WERE CHOSEN TO BE INTERVIEWED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS, HOW INTERVIEWERS WERE SELECTED AND TRAINED, AND THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING AND OF RECORDING AND ANALYZING THE DATA. COMPARISON BETWEEN THE 1967 AND 1972 SAMPLES WAS MADE OVER 17 DIFFERENT DELINQUENT ACTS AND 8 SUBOFFENSES, DATA FROM INTERVIEWS WITH 1,395 RESPONDENTS IS DISCUSSED AND ANALYZED ACCORDING TO SEX, AGE, RACE, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, AND AREA OF RESIDENCE (RURAL VERSUS URBAN). THE FREQUENCY AND SERIOUSNESS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AMONG AMERICAN BOYS 13 TO 16 YEARS OLD IN 1972 WAS LOWER THAN THAT OF THE SAME AGE GROUP IN 1967. THE STYLE OF DELINQUENCY CHANGED FROM OTHER TYPES OF BEHAVIOR TO DRUG USE - MOSTLY MARIJUANA. THIS INCREASED USE OF DRUGS WAS MOST MARKED AMONG 15 AND 16 YEAR OLDS. ADOLESCENTS FROM ALL SOCIAL STRATA GAVE EVIDENCE OF THE SAME TREND, BUT THE INCREASE IN THE USE OF DRUGS WAS SHARPEST AMONG BOYS IN MIDDLE STATES. RURAL ADOLESCENTS DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS SHIFT TO DRUG USE, THE REASONS FOR THIS CHANGED WERE IDENTIFIED AS A GREATER TOLERANCE BY PARENTS OF THIS BEHAVIOR AS PART OF ADOLESCENTS' SOCIAL LIFE, INCREASED DATING OF GIRLS IN THIS AGE GROUP, AND GREATER PARENT AUTONOMY OF THE SAME AGE BOYS. THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE USED IN THIS STUDY IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX ALONG WITH SEVERAL TABLES OF COMPARATIVE DATA. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS ALSO PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)