Race, Sociodemographics and the Serious Habitual Offender (From Serious Habitual Offender/Drug Involved Program (SHO/DI), Volume 1: Informational Commentaries, Phase I, 1986, P 6.1-6.6, Robert O Heck et al -- See NCJ-108314)

• NCJ Number: 108320
• Author(s): R O Heck; W Pindur; D K Wells
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-108314.

Annotation

A number of models for the identification or prediction of serious, habitual juvenile offenders have focused on the contribution of sociodemographic factors.

Abstract

There is overwhelming agreement on the higher incidence of crimes among nonwhites: blacks are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile criminal statistics, and the numbers of Hispanics and Asians arrested are increasing rapidly. Serious and violent offenders also are overwhelmingly male. Compared to their male counterparts violent female delinquents are more likely to commit their first violent offense less than a year after initial arrest and to have shorter careers. Studies of socioeconomic status suggest that there is a disproportionate representation of the lower class. Studies of academic variables indicate that delinquents have more learning disabilities, poorer academic performance, more truancy, and are less likely to be graduated from high school. While the relationship between various sociodemographic factors is clear, data do not support a causal relationship. 17 endnotes.