NCJ Number
85457
Journal
Today's Delinquent Volume: 1 Dated: (1982) Pages: 39-56
Date Published
1982
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study focuses on a number of studies dealing with the prediction of violent behavior, the response of the criminal and juvenile justice systems to violence by juveniles, and indicators of habitual criminality.
Abstract
John Monahan, in his review of the literature on the prediction of violence, advises that currently the most accurate clinical predictions will be correct only one time in three. The actuarial method of predicting behavior, which relies on where a person fits in a statistical profile rather than on how he appears to the clinician, is more accurate than the individual clinical approach, according to some studies reviewed. Monahan, however, emphasizes the value of clinical experience in developing accurate predictions. With reference to research on identifiers of habitual criminality, Farrington suggests that one potential identifier of the career criminal is the age at which he/she first appeared before the juvenile court, with those appearing at early ages being the most likely to become habitual criminals. In his examination of the criminal and juvenile justice systems' dealings with youthful offenders, Peter Greenwood asserts that the seriousness of youthful criminality may be overestimated, because (1) youth are generally arrested for minor offenses; (2) one crime committed by a group of juveniles may result in many arrests; and (3) police are more likely to arrest youth than adults who are marginally involved in criminal behavior. A review of rehabilitation programs for juveniles shows that few are oriented toward the violent juvenile offender, and evaluation of such programs as do exist are inadequate. A review of the research on programs for juvenile offenders generally indicates poor evaluation design. Greater use of experimental evaluation designs is required. Six references are listed.