NCJ Number
54661
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS TAPE CASSETTE FROM THE THIRD NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE REVIEWS THE CONDITIONS IN RURAL AREAS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO DELINQUENCY IN NONURBAN COMMUNITIES.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE TYPES OF TROUBLE CAUSED BY RURAL DELINQUENTS VARY FROM THAT CAUSED BY THEIR URBAN COUNTERPARTS, THERE IS A GRADUAL 'NATIONALIZATION' OF THE STYLE OF DELINQUENCY. THE EFFECTS OF TELEVISION, MOVIES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON RURAL AREAS INCLUDE THE GROWTH OF A PATTERN OF RURAL DELINQUENCY QUITE SIMILAR TO THAT OF URBAN DELINQUENTS. BEHAVIOR CAN BE MORE CAREFULLY REGULATED IN SMALL TOWNS, IN WHICH RECOGNITION AND IDENTIFICATION OF OFFENDERS IS MADE EASIER BY THE SMALL POPULATION AND THE GENERAL FAMILIARITY OF EVERYONE WITHIN IT. SOCIAL WORKERS AND POLICE, HOWEVER, HAVE FUNDAMENTAL SIMILARITIES IN THEIR WORK WHETHER LOCATED IN CITIES OR TOWNS. 'INSTITUTIONAL COMPLEXES' OF FAMILY SYSTEM, SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WORK ORGANIZATION ARE SIMILAR IN MOST ENVIRONMENTS. YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GET INTO TROUBLE USUALLY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL AND THUS HAVE DEVELOPED POOR SELF-IMAGES. IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS, EFFORTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL BACKGROUND, CHILDREN WHO DO WELL IN SCHOOL USUALLY AVOID DELINQUENCY PROBLEMS. TUTORIAL TEAMS OF STUDENTS HELPING YOUNGER CHILDREN HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING DELINQUENCY.