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CRIME-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS - AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF BURGLARY OFFENSE AND OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS

NCJ Number
43131
Author(s)
C E POPE
Date Published
1977
Length
60 pages
Annotation
IN THIS REPORT, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BURGLARY INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED IN SIX SEPARATE POLICE JURISDICTIONS OVER A 1-YEAR PERIOD ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
ATTENTION FOCUSED UPON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE OFFENDERS APPREHENDED FOR BURGLARY INCIDENTS DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD. ALTHOUGH JUVENILES WERE MOST APT TO COMMIT BURGLARIES IN THE VICINITY OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, FEMALE BURGLARY ARRESTEES TENDED TO COMMIT BURGLARIES AT A GREATER DISTANCE FROM THEIR RESIDENCES. BOTH FEMALE AND JUVENILE ARRESTEES WERE FOUND TO COMMIT BURGLARIES IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS. FEW DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL HISTORIES OF BLACK/OTHER OFFENDERS AND THOSE OF WHITE OFFENDERS WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT BLACK/OTHERS WERE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE PREVIOUS ARRESTS FOR BURGLARIES. PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY WAS FOUND TO BE AN IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF WHETHER AN OFFENDER WAS RELEASED OR HELD FOR PROSECUTION. DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS WERE ALSO FOUND TO INFLUENCE THE RELEASE DECISION, ALTHOUGH TO A LESSER EXTENT.