NCJ Number
2748
Date Published
1972
Length
163 pages
Annotation
THE WORKING ASSUMPTIONS OF CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY STAFF IN DEALING WITH DELINQUENCY CAUSES AND REMEDIES.
Abstract
A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF 595 RANDOMLY-SELECTED STAFF WAS CONDUCTED TO TAP STAFF EXPERIENCE AS A STEP IN DEVELOPING A STATEMENT ABOUT DELINQUENCY CAUSES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR REDUCING DELINQUENCY, AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WORKING ASSUMPTIONS OF STAFF WHO DEAL WITH DELINQUENTS. THE MAJORITY OF STAFF INDICATED THAT DELINQUENT ACTS ARE NOT BEST EXPLAINED BY A SINGLE LEVEL OF ANALYSIS, BUT RATHER BY A CHAIN OF CAUSES ULTIMATELY EXPRESSED BY THE INDIVIDUAL. A SOLID MAJORITY OF STAFF GAVE PREVENTION GOALS PRIORITY OVER TREATMENT GOALS, ADVOCATED A STRONG EFFORT TO DIVERT MORE YOUTH FROM THE JUSTICE-CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL FOR HARM, FELT THAT MAKING A LARGE DENT IN THE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE A MASSIVE ATTACK ON THE PROBLEM, AND FELT THAT DELINQUENTS ARE MORE CONVENTIONAL IN OUTLOOK AND HOPES THAN THEIR PEERS REALIZE. QUESTIONNAIRE UTILIZED IN THE STUDY, SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED.