NCJ Number
120333
Date Published
1989
Length
23 pages
Annotation
A study of a sample of adolescents in two cities in West Germany examined ethical problems in accessing and interviewing young offenders with special attention to the tendency of interviewees to defend the "territories of the self."
Abstract
Aspects such as techniques of survey, embarrassing questions, and social stigmatization were covered. Spontaneous consent was given by all female offenders who chose to participate. Reasons given by those refusing to participate revealed, upon analysis, concealed defensive maneuvers, false pretenses, empty promises, procrastination, denials of having received notice, denials of delinquency, and false identification. Eighty percent of all interviews were conducted with the subjects alone, and 60 to 70 percent lasted less than 15 minutes. Forty-four percent of the subjects were classified as "open and open-minded" and only 2 percent as "highly distrustful." Twenty-eight percent of the subjects experienced the interview as "not stressing" and 25 percent as "a little bit stressing." Fifty-six percent of the interviewers were said to be "very helpful," 40 percent "helpful," and 100 percent "friendly." Conclusions were that: 1) the interview was not morally objectionable; 2) subjects anxious of additional stress rejected the interview; 3) adolescents who decide for or against participation are sufficiently competent and confident; 4) subjects have overt and covert defensive maneuvers to protect their territory of self; and 5) the fear of additional stigmatization by the interview was rare and did not result in refusal to participate. 19 notes, 46 references.