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Juvenile Delinquency in the Black Community

NCJ Number
125576
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 67-84
Author(s)
P Gray-Ray; M C Ray
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Information from 293 black males who were included in a larger national study conducted in the 1970's formed the basis of an analysis of familial control factors on delinquency in the black community.
Abstract
The youths completed the Youth Needs Assessment questionnaire which gathered data on social class, family structure, perceptions of parental rejection, parental supervision and control, and juvenile delinquency. Findings showed no significant difference in delinquency with respect to social class. However, a strong, positive relationship was found between parental rejection and serious delinquency. Similarly, parental rejection was moderately related to involvement in minor delinquency. Unexpectedly, family structure and parental supervision and control were not significant predictors of minor delinquency. Findings may reflect the lack of validity of either the measures or the theoretical framework. Thus, for example, blacks' greater reliance on extended family members may reduce the assumed adverse effects of a single-parent household. Tables and 64 references.