NCJ Number
46637
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 74-91
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS ON THE NATURE OF POLICE-JUVENILE ENCOUNTERS IN A LARGE MIDWESTERN CITY OVER A 15-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING JUNE 1970 ARE ANALYZED AND COMPARED WITH FINDINGS BASED ON A STUDY CONDUCTED IN 1966 IN EASTERN CITIES.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS ENCOMPASSES POLICE RESPONSE TO 200 CALLS IN WHICH THE ALLEGED VIOLATOR WAS PRESENT AND UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. THE DATA ARE ANALYZED AND COMPARED WITH DATA FROM THE EARLIER STUDY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: DETECTION OF JUVENILE DEVIANCE; SERIOUSNESS OF JUVENILE DEVIANCE; ARREST RATES; LEGAL SERIOUSNESS AND ARREST; CITIZEN PREFERENCE AND ARREST; RACE AND ARREST; EVIDENCE AND ARREST; AND DEMEANOR AND ARREST. THE 1970 DATA GENERALLY SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS REACHED IN THE EARLIER STUDIES: MOST POLICE ENCOUNTERS WITH JUVENILES ARISE IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO CITIZEN REQUESTS; MOST ENCOUNTERS PERTAIN TO MATTERS OF MINOR LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE; THE PROBABILITY OF ARREST IS LOW FOR JUVENILES WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERS WITH POLICE; THAT PROBABILITY INCREASES WITH THE LEGAL SERIOUSNESS OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE; POLICE SANCTIONING OF JUVENILES REFLECTS THE PREFERENCES OF CITIZEN COMPLAINANTS IN FIELD ENCOUNTERS; THE ARREST RATE IS HIGHER FOR BLACK YOUTHS THAN FOR WHITE YOUTHS; THE PRESENCE OF SITUATIONAL EVIDENCE LINKING A JUVENILE TO A DEVIANT ACT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE PROBABILITY OF ARREST; AND THE PROBABILITY OF ARREST IS HIGHER FOR YOUTHS WHO ARE UNUSUALLY RESPECTFUL OR DISRESPECTFUL TOWARD THE POLICE. A NUMBER OF SUBPROPOSITIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, AND EXTENTIONS ARE ADDED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)