ESTABLISHING AN OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 46419
• Author(s): F M GREGURAS; P K BRODER; J ZIMMERMAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 33 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-99-0133; 76-JN-99-0022
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Research
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPORT NO 13

Annotation

AN APPROACH TO THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, UNDERTAKEN IN THE CONTEXT OF A COMPLEX RESEARCH EFFORT, IS DOCUMENTED.

Abstract

THE STUDY IS BEING MADE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND CERTAIN LEARNING DISABILITIES (LD). IF THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO, THEN IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO PREVENT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY BY SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. A PREVIOUS REPORT INDICATED THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS INCONCLUSIVE AND THAT MORE INVESTIGATION WAS NECESSARY. MALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 15 WERE TESTED TO DETERMINE IF THEY WERE LEARNING-DISABLED. SEVERAL SAMPLE GROUPS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO REMEDIAL WORK TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT TO COUNTER THE LD AND A RESULTING CHANGE IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR; THE FINAL EVALUATION IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 1978. IN ADDITION TO A FEW BEHAVIORAL RESTRICTIONS AND REFINEMENTS, THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY HAD ONE PRIMARY CRITERION -- OFFICIAL ADJUDICATION BY A JUVENILE COURT. FOR BACKGROUND PURPOSES, THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A DELINQUENT CHILD IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, INDIANA, AND MARYLAND (THE STATES FROM WHICH THE SAMPLES CAME) IS PRESENTED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT, ASIDE FROM ALL THE CONSTRAINTS PLACED ON THE STUDY, THE COURSE OF ACTION TAKEN APPEARED TO BE THE MOST WORKABLE FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (BAC)