NCJ Number
171445
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1998) Pages: 185-194
Date Published
1998
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article examines the claim that acts committed by youthful offenders are becoming more violent.
Abstract
The study found no evidence to support the assertion that youthful offenses are becoming more violent. Across Canada, in the 5 years ending in 1995-96, the increase in the rate of violent cases in youth court reflected an increase in the number of the most minor assaults. There was no increase in the rate at which the more serious assaults were being brought to court. On a slightly different, but related topic, there was evidence that the more serious the violent crime, the less likely a girl would be accused of doing it. Girls, who constituted 49 percent of young offenders, were underrepresented at all levels of assault, but particularly at the most serious levels. The article claims that all the data presented have been previously published and were available to any interested person. Thus, the debate about the supposed change in the "quality" of violence did not need to happen. The article describes youth crime as serious enough in Canadian society that there is no need to manufacture false trends. Tables, note, references