NCJ Number
14472
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 51-55
Date Published
1974
Length
5 pages
Annotation
COMPARISON BETWEEN 21 DELINQUENTS AND 56 NONDELINQUENTS AND AMONG THE DELINQUENTS AS THEY ARE PROCESSED FOR THEIR OFFENSE INDICATES THAT JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM 'LABELING' DOES NOT HAVE A LASTING ADVERSE AFFECT.
Abstract
THE FIRST COMPARISON BETWEEN THE DELINQUENTS AND THE NONDELINQUENT CONTROLS GIVES EXPECTED RESULTS. THE DELINQUENT BOYS DEFINITELY SEE THEMSELVES AS BEING MORE DELINQUENT THAN DO THEIR NONDELINQUENT PEERS AT BOTH TIMES OF COMPARISON. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR LEVELS OF SELF-ESTEEM ARE NOT SO CLEAR. THE DELINQUENT BOYS SEE THEMSELVES AS HAVING LESS SELF-WORTH THAN DO THE BOYS IN THE NONDELINQUENT COMPARISON GROUP AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST COMPARISON. THIS COMPARISON WAS MADE BETWEEN TEST RESULTS OBTAINED FROM A CLASS OF HIGH-SCHOOL SOPHOMORES DURING ONE OF THEIR STUDY PERIODS AND TEST RESULTS TAKEN FROM THE DELINQUENTS JUST AFTER THE APPREHENSION BY POLICE. IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE DELINQUENT BOYS WOULD APPRAISE THEMSELVES LOWER IN SELF-WORTH AT SUCH A STRESSFUL TIME. HOWEVER, OUR LATER COMPARISON OF THE TWO GROUPS' LEVELS OF SELF-ESTEEM DID NOT PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES.THESE COMPARISONS WERE ALSO MADE BETWEEN HOW THE DELINQUENTS SAW THEMSELVES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY WERE APPREHENDED BY POLICE AND HOW THEY SAW THEMSELVES AFTER EXTENSIVE PROCESSING AND FINAL JUVENILE COURT DISPOSITION. IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE STIGMA OF PROCESSING FOR THE OFFENSE WOULD PRODUCE NEGATIVE SELF-ATTITUDES AMONG THE DELINQUENTS. INSTEAD OF MORE DELINQUENT SELF-ATTITUDES AND LOWER SELF-ESTEEM RESULTANT TO THEIR PROCESSING, THE EVIDENCE CITED HERE SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT THE REVERSE MAY BE TRUE AMONG THE DELINQUENTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)