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DELINQUENCY IS STILL GROUP BEHAVIOR! - TOWARD REVITALIZING THE GROUP PREMISE IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE

NCJ Number
44021
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 68 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 262-273
Author(s)
M L ERICKSON; G F JENSEN
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE PREMISE THAT THE CONTEXT AND MAJOR REFERENTS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR INVOLVE ADOLESCENT GROUPS IS EXPLORED IN AN ANALYSIS OF DELINQUENT ACTS REPORTED BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FOUR SOUTHERN ARIZONA COMMUNITIES.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO 1,700 STUDENTS FROM 3 SMALL-TOWN AND 3 URBAN SCHOOLS. THE SUBJECTS WERE ASKED HOW MANY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR THEY HAD COMMITTED EACH OF 18 DELINQUENT ACTS, AND HOW MANY OF THESE TIMES THEY HAD BEEN IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE YOUTHS GENERALLY ENGAGE IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR WHEN THEY ARE IN THE COMPANY OF PEERS. HOWEVER, THE TENDENCY VARIES FROM OFFENSE TO OFFENSE. GROUP VIOLATIONS ARE MOST COMMON WITH DRUG OFFENSES AND LEAST COMMON WITH STATUS OFFENSES OTHER THAN DRINKING AND SMOKING. THE FINDINGS CORRELATE IN GENERAL WITH THOSE OF EARLIER STUDIES CONDUCTED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. THE CONCEPT OF THE LONE FEMALE DELINQUENT IS BROUGHT INTO QUESTION BY THE FINDING THAT FEMALES ACTUALLY ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT OFFENSES IN GROUPS THAN ARE MALES. VARIATIONS IN GROUP VIOLATION RATES ARE NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE AS EVALUATED BY ADULTS AND BY JUVENILES. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS IN SUPPORT OF THE GROUP BEHAVIOR PREMISE FOR LABELLING AND DETERRENCE THEORIES ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.