NCJ Number
18842
Date Published
1972
Length
31 pages
Annotation
SET OF THREE STUDIES EXAMINING, IN ORDER, THE CRIMINAL CHARACTERISTICS OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR DETENTION CENTER BOYS AND THE HYPOTHESIS THAT HABITUATION TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR DOES EXIST.
Abstract
IN THE FIRST TWO STUDIES THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO CORRELATE PRESENT CONVICTIONS WITH PAST CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND RELATED 'TREATMENTS'. SOME OF HIS CONCLUSIONS FROM THOSE CORRELATIONS ARE THAT THE JUNIOR DETENTION CENTER TERMS ARE OFTEN OF INSUFFICIENT LENGTH TO CAUSE AMENABLE RESPONSE, THAT A TENDENCY TOWARD CRIME SPECIALIZATION EXISTS AMONG EVEN THE JUNIOR BOYS (AGES 14-16), THAT THERE IS AN OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AGE OF ONSET AND THE REOCCURRENCE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND THAT SENIOR DETENTION SHOWED LITTLE SIGN OF HAVING 'INSTITUTIONALIZED' THE SAMPLE OF BOYS (AGES 17-20) STUDIED. FINDINGS OF THE THIRD STUDY SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS FOR HABITUATION BUT SHOW INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A PERIODICITY THEORY OF CRIME REOCCURRENCE.