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DELINQUENTS... AT LARGE? - A CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE PROBLEM OF YOUNG OFFENDERS

NCJ Number
60004
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1978
Length
34 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN GREAT BRITAIN IS EXAMINED BY A WORKING GROUP FROM THE CONSERVATIVE WOMEN'S NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THIS 1978 REPORT.
Abstract
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN INTERVIEWED A TOTAL OF 120 LEGAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL PERSONS, AND PARENTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY MOST COMMON TYPES AND SOURCES OF JUVENILE CRIME, AND TO INVITE CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS FOR DEALING WITH IT. THREE-QUARTERS OF THOSE INTERVIEWED BELIEVED THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY HAD INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS. PROPERTY CRIMES, ESPECIALLY BURGLARY, THEFT, BREAKING AND ENTERING, AND AUTOMOBILE THEFT, WERE THE MOST COMMON OFFENSES REPORTED. THOSE AFFILIATED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ALSO NOTED THE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME. CAUSES REPORTED INCLUDED FAMILY PROBLEMS, INADEQUACY OF SCHOOLS, TELEVISION PROGRAMMING, AND A GENERAL PUBLIC LOWERING OF STANDARDS OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. OPINIONS DIFFERED WIDELY ON THE RELATIVE MERITS OF PUNISHMENT AND TREATMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. AMONG THE 27 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING PARTY WERE (1) GREATER EMPHASIS ON PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES; (2) CLOSER SUPERVISION OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND MORE EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL DISCIPLINE; (3) THE EMPOWERING OF MAGISTRATES TO GIVE A RESIDENTIAL CARE ORDER (AND REMOVE JUVENILES FROM THEIR HOMES); (4) IMPROVED TRAINING FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND THEIR AIDES; (5) INCREASED YOUTH RECREATION ACTIVITY; AND (6) CREATING A NATIONAL CLIMATE IN WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE WILL SEE LAWLESSNESS AND VANDALISM AS UNACCEPTABLE. APPENDIXES DESCRIBE INTERVIEWS AND THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1969 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT. (CFW)