STATUS OF THE YOUNG-ADULT OFFENDER IN ISRAEL (FROM ISRAEL STUDIES IN CRIMINOLOGY, 1977, BY S GIORA SHOHAM - SEE NCJ-47896)

• NCJ Number: 47898
• Author(s): G FISHMAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Nateev - Printing and Publishing Enterprises Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Israel

Annotation

A LEGAL AND SOCIOCRIMINAL PROFILE OF YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS IN ISRAEL IS PRESENTED ON THE BASIS OF PROBATION DATA.

Abstract

THE TWO ISRAELI AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH OFFENDERS IN THE MARGINAL-AGE CATEGORY (17-21) ARE THE ADULT CRIMINAL COURTS AND THE ADULT PROBATION SERVICE. THE ISRAELI JUVENILE AND ADULT CRIMINAL CODES ARE THE SAME, EXCEPT IN REGARD TO PENALTIES. THE TREATMENT OF ADULT AND MARGINAL-AGE OFFENDERS DIFFERS IN THAT ADULT CRIMINALS ARE PERMITTED TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION AND RECOMMENDATION BY A PROBATION OFFICER (ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT). IN THE CASE OF THE MARGINAL-AGE OFFENDER, THE COURT IS REQUIRED TO ORDER AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE OFFENDER'S BACKGROUND, PROVIDED THAT THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THE OFFENSE IS OVER 6 MONTHS IN JAIL. THE DATA WERE GATHERED FROM CASE FILES OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE OF THE NORTHERN SECTION OF ISRAEL. A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 300 CASES WAS RANDOMLY SELECTED FROM A TOTAL OF 2,990 CASES REFERRED TO THE AGENCY DURING 1960, 1965, 1970, AND 1973. THE AGE OF THE CLIENTS RANGED FROM 16-21. THE SAMPLE POPULATION WAS 95 PERCENT MALE AND 80 PERCENT JEWISH. FATHERS AND SONS WERE COMPARED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, EMPLOYMENT SITUATION, CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT, AND NUMBER AND TYPE OF OFFENSES. VERY FEW OF THE PARENTS HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD. THE AVERAGE AGE OF ARREST WAS 16.5. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROBATION OFFICER AND THE JUDGE'S DECISION WAS A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE STUDY; THE DATA INDICATE A RELATIVELY HIGH AND VERY SIGNIFICANT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE TWO. WHEN THE VARIOUS SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND PROBATION OFFICERS' RECOMMENDATION WERE EXAMINED, NO SIGNIFICANT RELATIONS WERE FOUND. THIS SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT ISRAELI SOCIAL STRATIFICATION MAY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUBJECTING A PERSON TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM: ONCE A PERSON ENTERS THE SYSTEM, THE EVALUATIONS AND TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE ON INDIVIDUAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONS RATHER THAN ON THE BASIS OF SOCIAL STEREOTYPES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JSP)