NCJ Number
140324
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 151-164
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Annual figures for convictions and cautions published by the Great Britain Home Office are used to analyze trends in juvenile delinquency in England and Wales between 1961 and 1989; delinquency here is defined as convictions or cautions of persons between the ages of 10 and 16 for indictable offenses.
Abstract
In general, the prevalence of juvenile delinquency increased to a peak in 1985 before declining between 1985 and 1989, while the number of all recorded crimes rose over the whole time period. However, many analysts have argued that the true rate of juvenile delinquency has probably increased steadily, as police have replaced many written cautions with unrecorded warnings. Some of the reasons cited by the author for the increase in juvenile offending include poor parenting skills, increasing numbers of children in families receiving welfare benefits, and increasing substance abuse, truancy, and opportunities for crime. The author emphasizes the need for repeated surveys of nationally representative samples of juveniles and corroborating data from official records and from parents. A comparative study of differences between countries in delinquency rates could provide useful information when designing delinquency prevention programs. 3 tables and 28 references