NCJ Number
114475
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1988) Pages: 381-396
Date Published
1988
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This development of children's understanding of crime, and of the justice considerations embodied in law, has been little studied until recently. This is an important topic for investigation because the concept of 'crime' presumes understanding and intent, and because in order for juvenile justice legislation to be most effective, children should have some basic knowledge of how it affects them.
Abstract
The present study attempted a preliminary exploration of these issues, with the Young Offenders Act (YOA) as its focus. 144 children from grades 5 through 8 were interviewed and their knowledge assessed, both by questioning them on specific critical aspects of the YOA, and indirectly, through the presentation of hypothetical crime scenarios in which a child of varying age and gender committed a crime, either 'petty' or 'serious.' The results indicated that although all the children possessed a basic knowledge of what constitutes a crime, they showed a progressively more sophisticated understanding with age in a number of areas related to criminal behaviour. Their overall knowledge of the YOA areas questioned was quite poor, however. Recommendation was made for a program designed to educate children on some of the most important aspects of the law, with the suggestion that if children have a better understanding of the consequences of criminal behaviour, they may be less likely to participate. (Author abstract)