NCJ Number
64292
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 41 Issue: 6 Dated: (NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 12-13,18,60
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY PROVIDES A PROFILE OF DADE COUNTY (MIAMI), FLORIDA'S JUVENILE OFFENDER POPULATION THAT MAY HELP OTHER CITIES IDENTIFY DELINQUENTS OF SIMILAR COMPOSITION.
Abstract
BASED ON DATA DERIVED FROM THE TOTAL DELINQUENCY CASELOAD BEFORE A JUDGE IN DADE COUNTY, THE STUDY COMPARES THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME AMONG DADE COUNTY'S RACIAL-ETHNIC GROUPS, STUDIES THE MOTIVATING FACTORS THAT PROMPT THE JUVENILE OFFENDER TO COMMIT BURGLARIES OF PRIVATE HOMES, AND ASSESSES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND DELINQUENCY. BASIC INFORMATION ON OFFENDERS INCLUDES IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES OF OFFENSES, CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACT, AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. THE TYPICAL JUVENILE OFFENDER EMERGES AS A BLACK 16 YEAR OLD INVOLVED IN ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR, ALONG WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF ANGLOS INVOLVED IN RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES. LATIN INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME IS CONSISTENTLY LOW AS IS FEMALE PARTICIPATION AND DRUG INFLUENCES. THE STUDY SHOWS AN INTERACTION BETWEEN TRUANCY AND DELINQUENCY AND A FREQUENT USE OF THE COURTS BY THE SCHOOLS, SHOWING A NEED FOR CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS, COURTS, POLICE, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. REDUCING THE COURT'S JURISDICTION TO 16 YEAR-OLD DELINQUENTS MAY BE CONSISTENT WITH THE EARLIER MATURATION OF YOUTH, AND WOULD DEAL WITH THE SHARP INCREASE IN BURGLARIES COMMITTED AMONG YOUTHS AFTER AGE 15. BURGLARIES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY ABSENCE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER, LACK OF PLANNING, AMATEURISH EXECUTION, INDIFFERENT SELECTION OF RESIDENCE, AND COMMISSION OF THE CRIME ON A DAY OF TRUANCY. ADEQUATE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY RECREATION PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED AS DIVERSION FOR YOUTHS, WITH POLICE PATROL AND NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES SUGGESTED TO IDENTIFY TRUANTS AND THUS HELP REDUCE BURGLARIES. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)