NCJ Number
12250
Journal
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1973) Pages: 316-325
Date Published
1973
Length
10 pages
Annotation
SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF BREAKING AND ENTERING OFFENDERS, AND DEFINITE PATTERNS OF THE OFFENSE SUCH AS TIME OF DAY COMMITTED AND TYPE OF PREMISES VICTIMIZED.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS BASED ON 446 OFFENSES REPORTED DURING A SIX YEAR PERIOD. BREAKING AND ENTERING HAS BEEN ANALYZED BY VIEWING IT AS A CRIMINAL ACT CLOSELY RELATED TO THE OFFENDER'S LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THE PERSON WHO IS ARRESTED FOR THIS TYPE OF OFFENCE IS USUALLY AN ADOLESCENT OR YOUNG ADULT FROM A SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED BACKGROUND. FURTHER, HE HAS PROBABLY GROWN UP IN A FAMILY SETTING WHICH IS RELATIVELY UNSTABLE. THE SEASON OF THE YEAR, DAYS OF THE WEEK AND TIME OF THE DAY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BREAKING AND ENTERING OFFENCES IN PATTERNED WAYS. SUCH OFFENCES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR DURING THE WARM MONTHS, WEEK-ENDS, AND HOURS OF DARKNESS. THE HIGHER DISTRIBUTION OF BREAKING AND ENTERING OFFENCES DURING THESE TIME PERIODS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ABSENCE OF PEOPLE IN RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL PREMISES. TO WHAT DEGREE THESE PATTERNS OF BREAKING AND ENTERING OFFENCES, AS WELL AS THE SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENDERS, CAN BE FOUND IN LARGE CANADIAN COMMUNITIES REMAINS TO BE DEMONSTRATED BY FURTHER SOCIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)