DELINQUENCY PREVENTION - FACT AND FICTION (FROM TENTH ANNUAL INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP - PROCEEDINGS, 1975 - SEE NCJ-46564)

• NCJ Number: 46566
• Author(s): W E AMOS
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ISSUES AND FALSE ASSUMPTIONS IN THE SEARCH FOR A CURE FOR CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IN THE UNITED STATES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

ONE SUCH ASSUMPTION IS THAT BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS KNOW HOW TO MODIFY THE BEHAVIOR OF CRIMINALS AND PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM PURSUING DELINQUENCY. ANOTHER ASSUMPTION IS THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY GOOD AND, IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND SHOWN ENOUGH LOVE, WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. IN REALITY, MUCH CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IS COMMITTED NOT BY MISUNDERSTOOD PEOPLE BUT BY PEOPLE WHO FIND PERSONAL SATISFACTION IN THEIR BEHAVIOR AND FOR WHOSE BEHAVIOR NO ANSWERS ARE KNOWN. MANY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AIMED AT PREVENTING DELINQUENCY HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY UNDERLYING THE PROGRAMS. SOCIAL WORK APPROACHES HAVE NOT BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE WITH GHETTO YOUTHS. THE PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO BEEN HAMPERED BY POOR ADMINISTRATION AND BY THE PROBLEMS INHERENT IN ATTEMPTING TO INVOLVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP. OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED PRESSURES BY ETHNIC AND POLITICAL GROUPS, THE TENDENCY TO CONFUSE UNDERSTANDING PROBLEM BEHAVIOR WITH ACCEPTING OR EXCUSING IT, PROBLEMS WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH RESEARCH IS FUNDED, AND THE RELUCTANCE OF RESEARCHERS TO TAKE ON LONGITUDINAL STUDIES. THE PROBLEMS CAUSING DELINQUENCY INCLUDE THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE FAMILY STRUCTURE, DISORDER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PEER GROUP PRESSURE, THE EXCITEMENT AND STATUS THAT ACCOMPANY DELINQUENT ACTS, AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WITH REGARD TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS. OTHER MAJOR FACTORS ARE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND PROBLEMS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THERE IS A NEED TO RESOLVE LEGAL AND JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEMS IN THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THERE MUST ALSO BE A NATIONAL CHANGE IN PUBLIC ATTITUDES CONCERNING CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, AND IN PREVAILING FEELINGS ON MANIPULATION, GETTING BY WITH SOMETHING, BEING SUCCESSFUL, AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A GOOD BUSINESS DEAL. (LKM)