NCJ Number
66705
Date Published
1980
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A SUMMARY OF STATISTICAL DATA BETWEEN 1958 AND 1978 PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF JUVENILE CRIME PATTERNS IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH JUVENILE CRIME INCREASED STEADILY BETWEEN 1958 AND 1978, THERE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLE VARIATIONS FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THE RATE OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY BOYS PEAKED IN 1974 AND HAS SINCE FALLEN. THE CRIME RATE FOR GIRLS HAS RISEN MORE SHARPLY THAN FOR BOYS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE 1969 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT HAS AFFECTED JUVENILE CRIME. OVER THE LAST DECADE, JUVENILE OFFENDERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY COMPRISED ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ALL OFFENDERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES. MOST OFFENSES COMMITTED BY JUVENILES INVOLVE THEFT OR HANDLING STOLEN GOODS, WHILE ONLY 7 PERCENT OF OFFENSES BY JUVENILES AGED 14 TO 17 CONCERNED VIOLENCE, SEX, OR ROBBERY. CAUTIONING OF JUVENILES BY THE POLICE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 1958, ALTHOUGH PRACTICES VARY WIDELY AMONG JURISDICTIONS. SINCE 1968, THE USE OF CARE AND SUPERVISION ORDERS HAS DECLINED, AND THE PROPORTION OF OFFENDERS SENT TO BORSTALS AND DETENTION CENTERS HAS RISEN. THE PEAK AGE FOR COMMITTING OFFENSES IS 15 YEARS FOR MALES AND 14 FOR FEMALES. THEREAFTER PROPORTIONS DECLINE STEADILY, INDICATING THAT MOST JUVENILE OFFENDERS OUTGROW DELINQUENCY. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE JUVENILES SENTENCED TO INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF BURGLARY AND A THIRD HAD COMMITTED THEFT, HANDLING STOLEN GOODS, FRAUD, AND FORGERY. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE YEARLY DATA FROM 1958 TO 1978 ON MALE OFFENDERS, FEMALE OFFENDERS, CONVICTIONS, AND SENTENCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED - MJM)