NCJ Number
48755
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF THE OPINIONS OF 387 ADULTS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLA., ABOUT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND RELATED MATTERS IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE SURVEY METHODS AND PRESENTS A QUESTION-BY-QUESTION BREAKDOWN (BUT NO INTERPRETATION) OF RESPONSES TO THE 14-ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT 67.4 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS FELT THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN JACKSONVILLE WAS INCREASING, 12.9 PERCENT FELT IT WAS DECREASING, AND 19.6 PERCENT FELT THAT PARENTS OR GUARDIANS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A CRIME COMMITTED BY THEIR CHILD, WHILE 31.3 PERCENT FELT THEY SHOULD NOT. MANY (86.6 PERCENT) FELT THAT THE HOME (AS OPPOSED TO SCHOOLS, POLICE, SOCIAL AGENCIES, AND CHURCHES) HAS THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREVENTING DELINQUENCY. APPROXIMATELY 27 PERCENT FELT THAT RUNNING AWAY, MISCONDUCT IN SCHOOL, TRUANCY, OR BREAKING CURFEW (I.E., STATUS OFFENSES) ARE GROUNDS FOR GIVING A JUVENILE A DELINQUENCY RECORD, WHILE 66.1 PERCENT FELT THAT SUCH OFFENSES SHOULD NOT RESULT IN A RECORD. MANY (73.1 PERCENT) FELT THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS (AS OPPOSED TO STATE-OPERATED TRAINING SCHOOLS) WERE BETTER SETTINGS FOR REHABILITATION. OTHER QUESTIONS RELATE TO DETENTION VERSUS PARENT-SUPERVISED RELEASE FOR VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT JUVENILE OFFENDERS. RESPONSIBILITY FOR REHABILITATION, JUVENILE/ADULT COURT JURISDICTION, FEAR OF JUVENILE CRIME, EFFECTIVENESS OF SPECIFIC YOUTH PROGRAMS, CRIMES COMMITTED BY GIRLS, AND PUBLICIZING THE NAMES OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. NO CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN FROM THE SURVEY RESPONSES. BESIDES MAKING A COMPARISON OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAMPLE WITH DATA FROM THE 1970 CENSUS, NO SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)