FROM DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR TO OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 13602
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1972) Pages: 209-229
• Author(s): J R WILLIAMS; M GOLD
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH15837 (PHS); MH02311 (PHS)
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. REPRINT

Annotation

EXAMINATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY SHOWS THAT IT DOES NOT PARALLEL THE DISTRIBUTION OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

A CONCEPTUAL DISTINCTION IS DRAWN BETWEEN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AND OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY (APPREHENDED AND RECORDED DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR). DATA FROM A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF 13- TO 16 YEAR OLD BOYS AND GIRLS ARE EXAMINED FOR EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE OF THIS CONCEPTUAL DISTINCTION. THE FREQUENCY AND SERIOUSNESS OF SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR ARE ANALYZED FOR SEX, AGE, RACE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS DIFFERENCES. THESE DATA ARE THEN COMPARED WITH DATA ON SELF-REPORTED POLICE CONTACTS AND WITH DATA FOUND IN POLICE AND COURT RECORDS. THE FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE THAT THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AND OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY IS INDEED USEFUL AND NECESSARY - THE DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY AMONG CATEGORIES OF SEX, AGE, RACE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS DOES NOT PARALLEL THE DISTRIBUTION OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE DATA ALSO HELP TO IDENTIFY THE POINTS AT WHICH VARIOUS DISCREPANCIES DEVELOP IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR INTO OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)