NCJ Number
76366
Journal
REHABILITATION COUNSELING BULLETIN Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (March 1981) Pages: 308-310
Date Published
1981
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Efforts to prevent juvenile recidivism should be directed toward offenders from broken homes, since multiple offenders more frequently than one-time offenders come from broken homes, according to this study.
Abstract
The participants were 1,112 male and female youths who appeared in the county juvenile court from 1972 through 1978 in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Three age groups (10-14, 15-17, and 10-17) were created. One-time offenders were differentiated from recidivists. Homes in which two biological parents were present for the child's entire life were considered two-parent homes. All other homes were considered broken. Social histories and court records of juvenile offenders from 1972-1978 were reviewed. Data on age, number of offenses, and number of parents in the home were collected on each participant. The chi-square statistic was employed in an ex post facto design. For each group, a separate chi-square analysis was conducted on the number of participants in each cell of a two by two (broken home/two parents home by one-time offender/recidivist) matrix. One-time offenders and recidivists were analyzed separately. The findings showed a positive relationship between the broken homes and recidivism. A total of 62.9 percent of the recidivists were from broken homes in the 10 to 17 age group. Thus, delinquents from broken homes might be appropriate candidates for juvenile deliquency prevention programs. Statistical data and references are included.