NCJ Number
54593
Date Published
1978
Length
55 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF NEW YORK CRIME STATISTICS FINDS THAT MOST VIOLENT CRIMES INVOLVING STRANGERS ARE ROBBERIES COMMITTED BY CHRONIC OFFENDERS AGED 16 TO 19. THE LACK OF FACILITIES FOR HANDLING THESE OFFENDERS IS NOTED.
Abstract
THE SURVEY FINDS THAT THE CRIMINAL OFFENSES GENERATING THE MOST FEAR AND HOSTILITY ARE THOSE THAT INVOLVE VIOLENT ATTACKS BY STRANGERS IN PUBLIC LOCATIONS OR INTRUSIONS INTO PRIVATE HOMES. THE KEY OFFENSE IS ROBBERY; IT IS THE MOST COMMON OF THE SERIOUS CRIMES AMONG STRANGERS AND ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF THE MURDERS THAT OCCUR UNDER KNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. STUDIES IN NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, PA., AND CALIFORNIA SHOW THAT AN UNUSUALLY SMALL PROPORTION OF INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNT FOR A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF ALL CRIMES. NEW YORK DATA SHOW THAT PERSONS AGED 16 TO 19 ACCOUNT FOR 36 PERCENT OF ALL ROBBERY ARRESTS, 11 PERCENT OF ALL ASSAULTS, AND 33 PERCENT OF ALL BURGLARY ARRESTS BUT THAT 31 TO 42 PERCENT OF THOSE IN THIS AGE GROUP CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE ROBBERY ARE PLACED ON PROBATION. THE STUDY EXAMINES THE CASE OF THE HABITUAL OFFENDER WHO IS TOO OLD TO BE HANDLED EFFECTIVELY BY THE DESIGNATED FELONY PROCEDURES OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM BUT WHO IS NOT YET OLD ENOUGH TO BE HANDLED BY THE ADULT COURT. NEITHER SYSTEM CONSIDERS THE 16-18 YEAR OLD TO FALL WITHIN ITS PROVINCE, YET THIS IS THE PEAK PERIOD OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT GREATER COORDINATION BE ACHIEVED BETWEEN THE JUVENILE AND ADULT COURTS, THAT APPROPRIATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BE PROVIDED FOR THESE OFFENDERS, AND THAT YOUTH BE INCLUDED IN PROGRAMS FOR SERIOUS AND CHRONIC OFFENDERS. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)