NCJ Number
91830
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 5 Dated: (1982) Pages: 35-46
Date Published
1982
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A study conducted through the Baton Rouge Family Court Center of East Baton Rouge Parish, La., attempts to identify specific biographic and demographic variables that account for the behavior of runaway and nonrunaway ungovernable juveniles.
Abstract
The study's intent is to provide information useful for developing preventive techniques and treatment for runaways and their families. Variables examined are birth order, race, sex, single parent vs. intact family, family income, religion, educational level of parents, and whether or not the family receives public assistance. The study sample consists of 137 juveniles who ran away between December 1977 and December 1979, randomly selected from files of the Baton Rouge Family Court Center. A control group of 30 ungovernables who did not run away were selected from the same source for the same period. Findings show that the oldest and middle child are most likely to run away, and that the oldest child who runs away will most often be female. Runaways are more likely than nonrunaway ungovernables to be middle class and female and are more likely to become delinquent. Overall, the majority of the runaways are from middle-class families that would be responsive to treatment intervention. However, without financial resources for runaway programs and development of intervention models, increases in delinquency rates, in teenage pregnancies, and in juvenile prostitution can be expected. Tables and 15 references are provided.