POLITICS, POLICIES, AND THE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM

• NCJ Number: 8764
• Author(s): I SPERGEL
• Date Published: 1966
• Length: 33 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE POLITICAL USES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY FOR ORGANIZATIONAL AND PERSONAL ENDS BY VARIOUS GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANNELING THESE USES.

Abstract

DUE TO THE DEEP CONCERN OVER JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN THE URBAN COMMUNITY, A PROGRAM WHICH IS SUCCESSFUL IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM IS AFFORDED SPECIAL PRESTIGE, PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE AND GOOD WILL. THE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM HAS POLITICAL USES, THE AUTHOR HYPOTHESIZES, BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE WAGING SUCCESSFUL BATTLES AGAINST IT MAY ACCRUE POWER IN COMMUNITY DECISION-MAKING. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES FOUR POLITICAL TYPES WHICH HAVE RECENTLY ACCRUED INFLUENCE IN THIS WAY - THE MILITANT NATIONALIST OR EXTREMIST LEADER, THE NEW POLITICIAN, THE EX-GANG LEADER, AND THE AGENCY EXECUTIVE. THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EFFORTS OF THESE PEOPLE AND SUGGESTS THAT MORE ATTEMPTS BE MADE, ON THE PART OF ENLIGHTENED CITIZENS AND PROFESSIONALS, TO UTILIZE THE POTENTIAL FORCE WHICH IS LATENT IN DELINQUENT YOUTHS.