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Learning Disabilities and Other Attributes as Factors in Delinquent Activities Among Adolescents in a Nonurban Area

NCJ Number
114806
Journal
Psychological Reports Dated: (February 1987) Pages: 327-334
Author(s)
F T Fleener
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Sixty-two percent of 50 adjudicated delinquents in the Palouse area of eastern Washington and northern Idaho showed learning disabilities when tested.
Abstract
Among the learning disabled and nonlearning disabled delinquents, there was no difference in kind or seriousness of delinquent activity. The typical delinquent of the nonurban Palouse area tends to be white, male and has a learning disability. His reading and mathematics skills are at least 2 years below grade. His family is large; his real parents are divorced. He comes from a poorer economic and cultural background than do the nondelinquents. This analysis suggests that the academic treatment of the learning disabled youngster should not be ignored as a factor in delinquency, especially in economically and culturally poor families. (Author abstract)