NCJ Number
52457
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1978) Pages: 261-268
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE IF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND NONDELINQUENTS HAVE SIMILAR VALUE SYSTEMS; THE STUDY SAMPLE INCLUDED BOYS BETWEEN 13 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE IN A SOUTHEASTERN STATE.
Abstract
THE MAXIMUM LENGTH OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR THE BOYS IN TWO JUVENILE REFORMATORIES WAS 8 MONTHS. DATA WERE OBTAINED BY ADMINISTERING A QUESTIONNAIRE (NOT INCLUDED) BY THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN EACH INSTITUTION DURING REGULAR CLASS SESSIONS. OF 184 YOUTH INCARCERATED IN THE TWO TARGET INSTITUTIONS, COMPLETED AND USABLE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE RECEIVED FROM 129 RESPONDENTS. BECAUSE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE RESPONSES OF JUVENILES IN BOTH INSTITUTIONS WERE FOUND, DATA WERE AGGREGATED ACROSS INSTITUTIONS. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED TO RECORD HOW OFTEN IN THE 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR INSTITUTIONALIZATION THEY ENGAGED IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES. THEY WERE ADDITIONALLY ASKED TO EVALUATE WHETHER THEIR BEHAVIOR WAS ONE ABOUT WHICH THEY STRONGLY APPROVED, APPROVED, DISAPPROVED, STRONGLY DISAPPROVED, OR WERE INDIFFERENT. DELINQUENT ACTIVITIES INVOLVED DRUNK DRIVING, GETTING DRUNK, DRINKING, USING MARIJUANA AND OTHER HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS, USING FALSE IDENTIFICATION, CARRYING WEAPONS, DRAG RACING, SNIFFING GLUE, GANG FIGHTS WITH WEAPONS, GAMBLING, USING HEROIN, PREMARITAL SEX, SHAKEDOWNS, PROPERTY DESTRUCTION, FIGHTING, GANG FIGHTING, CUTTING SCHOOL, HIT-AND-RUN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS, FIGHTS WITH WEAPONS, THEFT, CHEATING, VISITING A PROSTITUTE, AND RAPE. ONLY NINE OF THE ACTIVITIES SHOWED SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT AND THE APPROVAL OF DELINQUENT ACTS. THE LACK OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN APPROVAL GIVEN TO AN ACT AND THE INCIDENCE OF THAT ACT FOR SERIOUS OFFENSES SUGGESTED THAT DELINQUENTS WERE ESSENTIALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH CONVENTIONAL CONDUCT NORMS. YOUTH WHO APPROVED OF ADVENTUROUS YOUTH-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR THAN THOSE WHO DID NOT, BUT NO RELATION WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE APPROVAL OF MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES AND THE EXTENT OF DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ATTITUDES OF THOSE ENGAGING IN SERIOUS DELINQUENT ACTIVITY DO NOT DIFFER FROM THOSE NOT ENGAGING IN SUCH ACTIVITY. THE ASSUMPTION OF SUBCULTURAL THEORISTS THAT DELINQUENTS HAVE VALUES DIFFERENT FROM NONDELINQUENTS, AT LEAST FOR SERIOUS OFFENSES, IS THUS REJECTED. SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)