NCJ Number
40947
Journal
ANNALES DE VAUCRESSON Issue: 12 Dated: (1974) Pages: 7-56
Date Published
1974
Length
50 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY COMPARED THE SOCIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A SAMPLE OF 862 16-17 YEAR OLD ADJUDICATED MALE DELINQUENTS TO THOSE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION OF BOYS OF THE SAME AGE.
Abstract
AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE WHAT, IF ANY, CHARACTERISTICS DISTINGUISHED DELINQUENTS FROM THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE. DATA WAS GATHERED ON THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE YOUTHS THEMSELVES (OCCUPATION, SCHOOLING, PRIOR CONTACTS WITH THE LAW) AS WELL AS ON THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF THEIR FAMILIES (SOCIO-PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY OF THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD, SOCIAL HOMOGAMY OF THE PARENTS, INTERGENERATIONAL SOCIAL MOBILITY, AND PARENTS' MARITAL STATUS). STUDY FINDINGS REVEALED THAT YOUNG DELINQUENTS MORE OFTEN BELONG TO CERTAIN SOCIAL CLASSES AND TO CERTAIN TYPES OF FAMILIES WHICH HAVE BEEN GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE EVOLUTION OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURE ('DE-RURALIZED' AND LOWER CLASS FAMILIES). IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IN ORDER TO DELINEATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS INSTITUTIONALIZED SOCIAL DELINQUENCY, IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THAT INDIVIDUAL DYNAMICS ONLY EXIST IN INTEGRATION WITH A 'QUASI-DETERMINATIVE' SOCIAL DYNAMIC. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) --IN FRENCH. SUMMARY IN ENGLISH...ELW