NCJ Number
13182
Date Published
1974
Length
174 pages
Annotation
PRESENTS STUDIES AND DISCUSSIONS OF THEORETICAL CONCERNS ON THE CHARACTEROLOGICAL FEATURES OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS.
Abstract
COMMENTS ARE MADE ON SOCIETY AND DELINQUENCY, WITH AN EXAMINATION OF THE CURRENT CRIME PROBLEM, THE ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND THE EFFICACY OF CURRENT LEGAL SANCTIONS. CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION IS DEVOTED TO POPULAR THEORIES OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHOR THEN OFFERS SOME NEW CONSIDERATIONS IN EXAMINING DELINQUENCY, SUCH AS THE INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT ON DELINQUENCY, CRITICAL MASS EFFECT (EXPLANATION FOR CERTAIN PHENOMENA WHEN A GIVEN CONCENTRATION OF CERTAIN SOCIAL FEATURES IN A POPULATION BECOMES CONTAGIOUS OR SELF-PERPETUATING), THE VICTIM'S ROLE IN DELINQUENCY, AND FORBIDDEN BEHAVIOR FROM THE ADOLESCENT'S VIEW. THE AUTHOR THEN GIVES DETAILS OF A STUDY OF MALE YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS IN A STATE PRISON. ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY WAS TO IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE THOSE GROUPS WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS. A SECOND STUDY ON THE CHARACTEROLOGY OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS PRESENTS OBSERVATIONS OF ATTITUDES AND RELEVANT BEHAVIOR OF A GROUP OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. THE INFORMATION USED IN THIS STUDY WAS GATHERED THROUGH PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVIEWS WITH THE OFFENDER POPULATION. THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS DEAL WITH THE PRISON SOCIETY AND NEW APPROACHES TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF DELINQUENCY.