NCJ Number
147631
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 4 Dated: (January 1967) Pages: 98-119
Date Published
1967
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study tested a feature of the opportunity theory of delinquency among lower class youth by investigating a network of six street groups in a lower class community in which there was evidence of variation in access to illegitimate opportunity.
Abstract
The major forms or styles of delinquency that may be found in lower class communities are viewed by opportunity theory as a function of the relative availability of illegitimate opportunity. In the test of this theory among six street groups in a lower class community, four of the groups were found to have specifiable delinquent styles. Their patterns of delinquency were characterized as sophisticated, conspicuous, occupational, and versatile. The two groups found to be nondelinquent are described as "unconventional" and "respectable." The sophisticated and conspicuous delinquent groups represent Cloward and Ohlin's ideal "criminal" and "conflict" variants of the delinquent subculture, with their access to illegitimate opportunity differing in accord with prediction from opportunity theory. Although not predicted, the versatile pattern was found to be predictable from the theory with minor modification; however, opportunity theory did not predict the occupational delinquent pattern. This finding suggests the need to modify the theory to include the variable of orientation to adult reference group. 7 tables, 2 figures, and 20 footnotes