NCJ Number
56291
Date Published
1978
Length
288 pages
Annotation
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF PERMISSIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN BRITAIN IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THERE IS A TENDENCY, EPITOMIZED IN THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS' ACT OF 1969, TO REGARD DELINQUENCY, ITS CAUSES, AND ITS SOLUTIONS AS A MATTER OF THERAPY AND WELFARE RATHER THAN MORALITY AND LEGALITY. CITING STATISTICAL ERRORS OR PREJUDICES OF VICTIMS, OFFICIALS AND EXPERTS CLAIM THAT THE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM IS GREATLY EXAGGERATED. THE DELINQUENCY THAT DOES EXIST IS VIEWED AS ESSENTIALLY A SYMPTOM OF EMOTIONAL, ECONOMIC, OR SOCIAL DEPRIVATION. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH INDICATES THAT SUCH BELIEFS ARE WRONG AND SERVE ONLY TO COMFORT THOSE WHO WISH TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS THE NECESSITY OF CHOOSING, TRANSMITTING, AND MAINTAINING RULES OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE CONFUSION IN IDEOLOGY REGARDING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY HAS RESULTED IN THE REJECTION NOT ONLY OF CERTAIN MEANS OF REDUCING DELINQUENCY, BUT OF THE END ITSELF. FOR INSTANCE, SOME PERSONS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PREVENTING DELINQUENCY ACTUALLY INDENTIFY WITH DELINQUENTS AND SEE THEM AS PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY LABELLED, WHO ARE MAKING A VALID POLITICAL PROTEST, AND WHO REPRESENT A CREATIVE FORCE AGAINST SOCIAL EVILS. THE ENTIRE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT IN CHILD REARING AND EDUCATION IS ENCOURAGING PERSONAL AND SOCIAL HANDICAPS IN BRITAIN AND OTHER COUNTRIES. TRADITIONAL AND COMMUNIST SOCIETIES THAT EMPLOY RADICALLY DIFFERENT METHODS OF UPBRINGING APPEAR TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN PROGRESSIVE SOCIETIES IN REDUCING DELINQUENCY AND IN INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS TO ACHIEVE HAPPINESS AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. BRITAIN BASES ITS APPROACH TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ON FEELINGS OF GUILT ABOUT INTRUDING ON THE NATURAL INNOCENCE AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH. IT SHOULD REPLACE THIS APPROACH WITH RECOGNITION OF SOCIETY'S RIGHT AND DUTY TO TRANSMIT ITS VALUES TO NEW GENERATIONS, AND WITH A MORE EMPIRICAL VIEW OF SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REALITIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)