NCJ Number
35036
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 109-125
Date Published
1976
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED THE EXTENT TO WHICH INVOLVEMENT IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS A GROUP PHENOMENON AND THE VALIDITY OF THE 'GROUP HAZARD HYPOTHESIS'.
Abstract
THE 'GROUP HAZARD HYPOTHESIS' STATES THAT PARTICIPATION IN DELINQUENT ACTS WITH OTHERS INCREASES THE CHANCES THAT THE ACTORS WILL BECOME OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY STATISTICS (WILL BE ARRESTED). QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES FROM 69 RANDOMLY SELECTED SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES IN A SOUTHWESTERN METROPOLITAN AREA INDICATED THAT THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO ARREST SUSPECTS ENCOUNTERED IN GROUPS RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALLY AND THAT THEY BELIEVE JUVENILES ARE LIKELY TO COMMIT THEIR OFFENSES IN GROUPS. IN ADDITION, USING SELF-REPORT PROCEDURES, GROUPS OF URBAN AND RURAL MALES AND FEMALES, AS WELL AS AN INSTITUTIONALISED GROUP OF MALE DELINQUENTS, WERE STUDIED. BY EXAMINING OFFENSES INDIVIDUALLY IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A LARGER PROPORTION OF REPORTED DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENTS OCCUR IN ISOLATION THAN THE OFFICIAL DATA WOULD LEAD ONE TO EXPECT. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT OFFENDERS WHO TEND TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL BEHAVIOUR IN GROUPS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN PICKED UP BY THE POLICE THAN ARE OFFENDERS WHO TEND TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL BEHAVIOUR IN ISOLATION, EVEN WHEN THE SERIOUSNESS AND FREQUENCY OF THE OFFENCES IN WHICH THE TWO GROUPS HAVE ENGAGED ARE COMPARABLE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT RELYING SOLELY ON OFFICIALLY RECORDED DELINQUENT EVENTS HAS LED RESEARCHERS AND THEORISTS TO OVEREMPHASIZE THE EXTENT TO WHICH DELINQUENCIES ARE COMMITTED IN GROUPS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)