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ATTITUDE AND SOCIAL REACTION OF A SAMPLE OF YOUTHS VIS-A-VIS SOME CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS

NCJ Number
43867
Journal
QUADERNI DI CRIMINOLOGIA CLINICA Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (APPIL-JUNE 1977) Pages: 215-236
Author(s)
E CALVANESE; P G FLORENTINI
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
AN ITALIAN SURVEY OF YOUTH'S OPINIONS ON CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT ACTS SHOWED THAT MOST OF THOSE QUESTIONED DISAPPROVED OF SUCH BEHAVIOR, BUT PREFERRED TO DEAL WITH THE PERPETRATORS THROUGH NONPUNITIVE MEASURES.
Abstract
THE STUDY SAMPLE WAS COMPOSED OF 700 YOUTHS OF BOTH SEXES BETWEEN 14 AND 18 YEARS OLD, 400 OF WHOM WERE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF MILAN, ITALY, AND 300 OF WHOM LIVED IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTY. THOSE SELECTED REPRESENTED A CROSS-SECTION OF ECONOMIC CLASS LEVELS AND DEGREES OF URBANIZATION. THE YOUTHS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE THEIR APPROVAL/INDIFFERENCE/DISAPPROVAL OF EACH OF 24 ITEMS AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, TO DESCRIBE WHAT TYPE OF INTERVENTION (I.E., PERSONAL, THIRD-PARTY, PSYCHIATRIC/PENAL, POLITICAL/SOCIAL) WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. INCLUDED WERE ITEMS RELATED TO THE CATEGORIES OF PROPERTY CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, DEVIANCES ARISING FROM SOCIAL CONFLICTS, AND CONDUCT INVOLVING DRUGS. RESULTS REPORTED IN THIS ARTICLE REFER TO THE SPECIFIC ACTS OF VANDALISM, JOYRIDING, ROBBERY, FIGHTING, PICKPOCKETING, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, DRUG-DEALING, SHOPLIFTING, AND PURSE-SNATCHING, EMOTIVE REACTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL RANGED FROM A LOW OF 75 PERCENT RELATIVE TO 'POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN REACTION TO PROVOCATION' TO A HIGH OF 98.8 PERCENT FOR ROBBERY. THE INSTRUMENTAL REACTION, OR PROPENSITY TOWARD SOME FORM OF INTERVENTION, WAS CORRESPONDINGLY HIGH; REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TYPES OF INTERVENTION, HOWEVER, THE YOUTHS FAVORED THOSE OF A PRIVATE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NATURE, AND SELDOM RECOMMENDED THE MORE PUNITIVE INTERVENTIONS. FROM THESE RESULTS THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE INTERVIEWED ARE CRITICAL OF THE LAW'S ABILITY TO PUNISH, PARTICULARLY WHERE DETENTION IS CONCERNED. FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR AND GRAPHIC FORM, AND THE QUESTIONS INVOLVED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE REPRODUCED. --IN ITALIAN.

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