NCJ Number
26586
Date Published
Unknown
Length
35 pages
Annotation
ASSESSMENT OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH DATA THAT IS FREQUENTLY MAINTAINED IN JUVENILE COURT RECORDS CAN BE EMPLOYED TO PREDICT RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
DATA FOR THE STUDY WAS DERIVED FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF A SAMPLE OF 1,702 JUVENILES WHO APPEARED BEFORE TWO JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTIONS ONE OR MORE TIMES DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1970 AND DECEMBER 31, 1974. FINDINGS REVEAL THAT GENERAL SOCIAL BACKGROUND AND OFFENSE CHARACTERISTICS PROVIDE A HIGHLY IMPERFECT MEANS OF PREDICTING WHO WILL AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE JUVENILE COURT BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO CONDUCT LONGITUDINAL STUDIES THAT MEASURE THE IMPACT OF INFLUENCES NOT MADE A MATTER OF OFFICIAL RECORD ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOSE EFFECTS MANIFEST AFTER THE INITIAL COURT APPEARANCE.