Recent Trends in Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice (From The Future of the Juvenile Justice System, P 1-19, 1991, Josine Junger-Tas and Leonieke Boendermaker, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-133019)

• NCJ Number: 133020
• Author(s): J Junger-Tas
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: ACCO Tiensestraat 134-136
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Belgium
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. A paper from an international conference on the future of the juvenile justice system, May 29-31, 1989, in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands.

Annotation

This paper reviews past and recent juvenile crime patterns in western countries with data drawn from a number of countries but primarily from the Netherlands, and offers possible explanations of the trends.

Abstract

Between 1950 and 1970 juvenile delinquency rates substantially increased. Property offenses had the greatest increase, notably vandalism. From 1980 to 1987 juvenile crime declined for both boys and girls, but the pattern differed between the sexes. Boys' delinquency increased from 1980 to 1982 and then declined slowly. Girls' delinquency, however, sharply increased from 1980 to 1985 and only then began to decline. Among boys all offenses except public-order offenses (football hooliganism, bar fights) declined. Among girls there was a striking increase in vandalism as well as violence against persons, but a decrease in overall property offenses. Possible explanations for the decline in overall juvenile crime are the decline in the birth rate, tightened informal social controls on juveniles, the decriminalization of minor offenses, crime prevention efforts, and police diversion of minor juvenile offenders without formal action. Some juvenile justice policy issues that need debate are listed. 12 references and 10 figures