WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT JUVENILE HOMICIDE?

• NCJ Number: 66607
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1980) Pages: 152-161
• Author(s): J SORRELLS
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Sale Source: National Council on Crime and Delinquency; UMI Dissertation Services; Institute for Scientific Information
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRICE QUOTED FOR NCCD IS FOR SINGLE ISSUE. A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSION OF THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED TO THE SIXTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE IN SAN DIEGO (CA), 1979

Annotation

HOMICIDAL JUVENILES ARE LIKELY TO EITHER LACK THE CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY WITH OTHER HUMAN BEINGS BE PREPSYCHOTIC AND HIGH SUICIDE RISKS, OR BE NEUROTICALLY FEARFUL YOUNGSTERS.

Abstract

DATA FROM A STUDY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIF., JUVENILES CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE IN 1973 AND 1974 SUGGEST THAT A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF THESE JUVENILES LIVE IN POOR COMMUNITIES WHERE LIFE SEEMS BLEAK AND HOPELESS AND WHERE THE FREQUENCY OF INFANT MORTALITY INDICATES THAT LIFE IS NOT HIGHLY VALUED. IN ADDITION, THIS STUDY AND A REVIEW OF SIMILAR STUDIES INDICATE THAT THOSE CHILDREN COME FROM VIOLENT, CHAOTIC FAMILIES. THEY FALL INTO THREE GROUPS: HOMICIDAL JUVENILES WHO ARE NONEMPATHIC, OR LACK THE CAPACITY TO EXPERIENCE EMPATHY OR IDENTIFICATION WITH, OR COMPASSION FOR OTHER HUMAN BEINGS; PREPSYCHOTICS TRAPPED IN PAINFUL AND CONFLICT-RIDDEN INTERPERSONAL SITUATIONS, USUALLY THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE NEUROTICALLY FEARFUL WHO LACK A BASIC SENSE OF SECURITY AND THEREFORE OVERREACT TO THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES AS THOUGH THEY WERE POTENTIALLY LETHAL. RECOGNITION OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS SHOULD HELP IN FASHIONING INTERVENTION STRATEGIES. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MUST COLLECT DATA THAT CAN PINPOINT DIFFERENT PROBLEMS IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, HOWEVER. AGENCIES SHOULD THEN COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS IN ATTACKING PROBLEMS IN THESE HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES. ALL CHILDREN ENTERING CUSTODY SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS. CORRECTIONAL AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS SHOULD FOCUS ON EMPATHY, THE RESOLUTION OF EMOTIONAL CONFLICT, AND PERSONAL SECURITY. THE FAMILIES OF POTENTIALLY HOMICIDAL CHILDREN SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY EVALUATED AND CHILDREN SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM CHAOTIC, VIOLENT FAMILIES. JUDGES AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE IN A UNIQUELY POWERFUL POSITION TO URGE AGENCIES AND THE COURTS TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO TRY TO REHABILITATE THE HOMICIDAL JUVENILE. FOOTNOTES ARE GIVEN. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--AOP)