ARRESTS AND DELINQUENCY IN TWO GENERATIONS - A STUDY OF BLACK URBAN FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN

• NCJ Number: 28034
• Journal: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Volume: 16 Dated: (1975) Pages: 125-140
• Author(s): L N ROBINS; P A WEST; B L HERJANIC
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE TRANSMISSION OF DELINQUENCY BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN BY COMPARING THE PARENTAL DELINQUENCY AND ARREST RATES WITH THE JUVENILE RECORDS OF BOTH MALE AND FEMALE OFFSPRING.

Abstract

IN INTERVIEWS, A COHORT OF 223 YOUNG BLACK URBAN-BORN MEN WERE ASKED FOR NAMES AND AGES OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN'S MOTHERS. POLICE AND JUVENILE COURT RECORDS WERE OBTAINED FOR BOTH PARENTS AND ALL OFFSPRING PAST THE AGE OF OFFICIAL DESIGNATION AS A JUVENILE - 145 CHILDREN OF 76 MEN QUALIFIED. A COMPARISON OF JUVENILE RECORDS OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN SHOWED SIMILAR RATES AND TYPES OF OFFENSES. PARENTAL ARREST HISTORIES WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE POWERFUL PREDICTORS OF THEIR CHILDREN'S DELINQUENCY. OTHER FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS THAT MIGHT MODIFY THE RISKS OF DELINQUENCY IN CHILDREN OF ARRESTED PARENTS WERE EXPLORED, INCLUDING THE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR OF MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED PATERNAL FAMILY. THE ONLY FACTOR FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO DELINQUENCY FOR EITHER BOYS OR GIRLS OF ARRESTED PARENTS WAS SIZE OF THE SIBLING GROUP. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) SAINT LOUIS