NCJ Number
82242
Date Published
1981
Length
27 pages
Annotation
Findings are presented from a study of 100 Dade County (Fla.) juvenile offenders and their families designed to determine background and personality characteristics.
Abstract
Delinquents were found to be significantly less able to understand moral concepts than their nondelinquent peers, and they were apt to be intellectually slower than their nondelinquent peers. Delinquents are consistently more apt to fail in school, and most have either minor or major emotional problems or inadequate personalities, with the most frequent type of inadequate personality being unsocialized personality. Family violence is frequently found in the homes of delinquents, as well as a high incidence of alcohol use or abuse. Physical punishment is the most frequent method used by delinquents' parents to discipline their children. Black males are the most serious and frequent offenders, while female delinquency is relatively rare. Parents of delinquents average a 9th grade education, and employment is in the unskilled or lowest category of job status. Delinquents' families tend to be large, averaging five children, including the offender. Well over half of the delinquents' families are broken by separation, divorce, or death. Most delinquents are in the care of their natural mothers. Some implications of the study are discussed, and tabular and graphic data are provided. Ten notes and six references are listed. (Author summary modified)