CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, ARREST, AND LIFE CHANGE MAGNITUDE (FROM STRESS AND CRIME, P 161-176, 1980, BY MARTIN J MOLOF - SEE NCJ-67800)

• NCJ Number: 67807
• Author(s): J PETRICH; C HART
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCJ-67807 AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE FROM NCJRS UNDER NCJ-67800.

Annotation

A QUANTITATIVE METHOD WAS USED TO ASSESS THE LIFE SITUATION SURROUNDING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND SUBSEQUENT ARREST USING THE SCHEDULE OF RECENT EXPERIENCE (SRE).

Abstract

THE SRE LISTS CONTRIBUTIONS TO CLUSTERS OF EVENTS REQUIRING CHANGE AND ADJUSTMENT THAT HAVE BEEN OBSERVED TO PRECEED THE ONSET OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS, CARDIOVASCULAR AND SKIN DISEASE, AND HERNIAS. SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL AND PERSONAL EVENTS RELATING TO FAMILY, JOB, RELIGION, HEALTH, AND LIFE STYLE. THE SRE WAS USED TO COLLECT DATA ON LIFE EVENTS EXPERIENCED IN THE YEARS PRIOR TO ARREST AND INCARCERATION FOR 334 JUVENILE DETAINEES, 30 ADULT FELONS REFERRED FOR PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION, AND 176 ADULT MALE FELONS IN STATE AND FEDERAL PENITENTIARIES. DATA ON A NORMATIVE GROUP WERE ALSO USED. LIFE EVENT FREQUENCY DATA FROM THE SRE WAS ALSO ANALYZED FOR EACH PERSON AND FOR EACH GROUP. SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THEIR LIFE EVENT FREQUENCY SCORE IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THEIR CURRENT INCARCERATION, AND THEY REPORTED LOWER AVERAGE SCORES THAN NORMATIVES FOR THE MORE REMOTE PERIOD, 2 AND 3 YEARS PAST. ANALYSIS OF THE MEAN ANNUAL FREQUENCY OF THE VARIOUS LIFE EVENT AREAS SHOWED THAT, WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF 'CONFLICTS WITH THE LAW,' THE RECENT AND REMOTE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF INCARCERATED MEN INCLUDED FEWER EVENTS IN MOST AREAS THAN THE NORMATIVE MEN. CONFLICT WITH THE LAW EMERGED AS THE MOST CONSISTENT AND OUTSTANDING FEATURE OF THE LIFE EXPERIENCES REPORTED BY INCARCERATED MEN REGARDLESS OF THE SPECIFICATION OF THEIR CRIMES. FURTHER, THE REPORTED FREQUENCY OF GOING TO JAIL INCREASED FASTER THAN THE REPORTED FREQUENCY OF LAW VIOLATIONS. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE SAMPLE MAY REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS SELECTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR EXACTLY THIS PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR IN THE CRIMINAL RECORD. QUANTITATIVELY, THE DATA INDICATE THAT THE MEN ARE REPORTING JAIL TERMS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THEY ARE REPORTING LAW VIOLATIONS IN THE SRE. THE PARTICULAR AREA OF THE SRE MIGHT BE EXPANDED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH. TABLES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (MHP)