NCJ Number
42971
Journal
Crime & Delinquency Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1977) Pages: 321-332
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE ARTICLE COVERS THE HISTORICAL SOCIAL PROBLEM OF DEALING WITH JUVENILE RUNAWAYS AND DESCRIBES THE LEGAL STATUS PECULIAR TO THESE YOUTHS.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH RUNNING AWAY IS A GLORIFIED PART OF AMERICAN FOLK TRADITION, TODAY'S RUNAWAY RUNS AFOUL OF A HOST OF LAWS, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH MAKE THE ACT ITSELF ILLEGAL. RUNAWAYS AND VAGRANTS WERE LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD-SAVING MOVEMENT, WHICH PARALLELED THESE CHANGES IN SOCIAL STATUS. RUNAWAY YOUTHS DREW THE ATTENTION OF CHARLES LORING BRACE, FOUNDER OF THE CHILD-SAVING MOVEMENT. BRACE'S REVOLUTIONARY NOTION -- THAT BAD YOUTHS COULD BE REFORMED -- BROUGHT ABOUT LEGAL REFORMS, INCLUDING REFORMATORIES, CHILD WELFARE LAWS, & JUVENILE COURTS. DESPITE THE BARRIERS RESULTING FROM THIS REDEFINED LEGAL & SOCIAL THOUGHT, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE GREAT PERIODS OF RUNNING AWAY IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION, WORLD WAR II, AND RECENT 'FLOWER CHILD' ERA. STUDIES OF THE YOUTHS DURING AND BETWEEN BETWEEN PERIODS INDICATED A RECURRING THEME; RUPTURE IN THE NUCLEAR FAMILY. IF FAMILY PRESSURE IS THE MOST COMMON 'PUSH' ENCOURAGING A YOUTH TO LEAVE, THERE MAY AT THE SAME TIME BE STRONG 'PULL': AN ENTICING SUPPORT GROUP OF RUNAWAY YOUTHS. WHEN THE PEER-SUPPORT SYSTEM REACHES A 'TAKE-OFF' POINT, THE LURE OF RUNNING IS SO GREAT THAT LITTLE 'PUSH' IS REQUIRED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP