NCJ Number
48618
Journal
Psychological Reports Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Dated: (1976) Pages: 551-558
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE STUDY DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOL RECORDS CONTAIN DATA WHICH WOULD HELP TO IDENTIFY THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO BECOME DELINQUENTS.
Abstract
THE NAMES OF 108 DELINQUENT CHILDREN WERE OBTAINED FROM JUVENILE COURT RECORDS, AND EACH WAS MATCHED WITH A NONDELINQUENT ACCORDING TO SEX, GRADE LEVEL, AND SCHOOL ATTENDED. FROM THE CUMULATIVE SCHOOL RECORDS, DATA WERE COLLECTED ON NOTABLE CHANGE AND ESTIMATES OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL, TARDINESS, ATTENDANCE PATTERN AND AVERAGE DAYS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, PARENTAL RETURN OF SCHOOL HEALTH RECORD INFORMATION, THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL AND SCHOOL CHANGES, AND MARITAL STATUS OF PARENTS. IT WAS FOUND THAT SIGNS OF UNDERACHIEVEMENT, ACADEMIC DEFICIENCIES, LACK OF FAMILY STABILITY, POOR ATTENDANCE PATTERNS, AND INDICATIONS OF A LACK OF FAMILY CONCERN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD CAN AMOUNT TO CUMULATIVE EFFECTS THAT PRECIPITATE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AN UNSTUDIED INTERVENTION IN A CHILD'S LIFE WITH A VIEW TOWARD PREVENTING FUTURE DELINQUENCY MAY OPERATE TO STIGMATIZE THE CHILD AND CONTRIBUTE TO A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE SCHOOL CAN FOCUS ON ACADEMIC DEFICIENCIES IN A CONCERNED AND DIPLOMATIC WAY SUCH THAT ACHIEVEMENT CAN BE IMPROVED AND AN ATMOSPHERE STIMULATING A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH CAN BE CREATED. REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)