Juvenile Justice Juvenile Justice

CJ 3650CJ 3650

Professor James J. Drylie Professor James J. Drylie

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Measuring Juvenile CrimeMeasuring Juvenile Crime

•• Fears related to juvenile crime reached Fears related to juvenile crime reached new heights in the past two decadesnew heights in the past two decades

•• Fear remains high despite falling juvenile Fear remains high despite falling juvenile crime rates over the past 10 yearscrime rates over the past 10 years

•• The media focuses on high profile cases The media focuses on high profile cases that do not accurately reflect the statistics that do not accurately reflect the statistics

The elusiveness of accurate The elusiveness of accurate juvenile crime figures juvenile crime figures

•• Measuring total crime is extremely difficultMeasuring total crime is extremely difficult

–– Singling out juvenile crime is equally difficultSingling out juvenile crime is equally difficult

•• A decentralized juvenile justice systemA decentralized juvenile justice system

•• Confidentiality of records in the JJ systemConfidentiality of records in the JJ system

•• Many options dealing with juvenilesMany options dealing with juveniles

•• Collection of data is often datedCollection of data is often dated

Important termsImportant terms

•• Confidentiality restrictionsConfidentiality restrictions–– Laws keeping juvenile records confidentialLaws keeping juvenile records confidential

•• CorrelatesCorrelates–– Variables related to each otherVariables related to each other

•• Risk factorsRisk factors–– Variables correlated with delinquencyVariables correlated with delinquency

•• Protective factorsProtective factors–– Variables that insulate or protect from Variables that insulate or protect from delinquency delinquency

Measuring the extent of juvenile Measuring the extent of juvenile crimecrime

•• Official recordsOfficial records

•• Victimization surveysVictimization surveys

•• SelfSelf--report surveys report surveys

Official RecordsOfficial Records

•• Official statistics and measures are data Official statistics and measures are data collected by governmental agenciescollected by governmental agencies

–– CityCity

–– CountyCounty

–– StateState

–– Federal Federal

•• Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)

–– Most comprehensive official measure of crime Most comprehensive official measure of crime

•• Part I offenses Part I offenses –– Index CrimesIndex Crimes

•• Part II offenses Part II offenses –– less serious less serious

Index CrimesIndex Crimes

•• The most serious crimes in the UCRThe most serious crimes in the UCR

•• Often referred to as Often referred to as ““feloniesfelonies””

–– MurderMurder

–– RobberyRobbery

–– RapeRape

–– Aggravated assaultAggravated assault

Part II Part II -- Misdemeanors Misdemeanors

•• The less serious crimes The less serious crimes –– TheftTheft

–– Property damageProperty damage

–– AssaultAssault

•• For juveniles also includes For juveniles also includes status offensesstatus offenses–– RunawayRunaway

–– CurfewCurfew

–– Truancy Truancy

DataData•• 2003 2003

–– 1.2 million arrests of juveniles1.2 million arrests of juveniles

–– Juveniles account for 16% of all arrestsJuveniles account for 16% of all arrests

–– 15% of all violent arrests 15% of all violent arrests

–– Arrests for juveniles for Violent Crime Index Arrests for juveniles for Violent Crime Index offenses has declined over past 7 years offenses has declined over past 7 years

•• Substantial increase in arrests for violent Substantial increase in arrests for violent crime began in 1980s & peaked in 1994crime began in 1980s & peaked in 1994

–– By 1998 the rate fell 19%By 1998 the rate fell 19%

Juveniles & Property Crime Juveniles & Property Crime

•• Despite the declining rate associated with Despite the declining rate associated with violent crime, the violent crime, the Property Crime IndexProperty Crime Index

for juvenile offenders has remained for juvenile offenders has remained constant over the past 16 yearsconstant over the past 16 years

Juvenile Court Statistics Juvenile Court Statistics

•• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) collects data from Prevention (OJJDP) collects data from juvenile courtsjuvenile courts–– Automated caseAutomated case--level datalevel data

•• Collected by agencies at the case level containing Collected by agencies at the case level containing details about the offender, victim, and details about the offender, victim, and dispostiondispostion

–– Aggregate data Aggregate data •• Collected by agencies on the overall number of Collected by agencies on the overall number of cases or dispositions processed cases or dispositions processed

•• Funnel effectFunnel effect –– the number of cases the number of cases processed through the system decrease at processed through the system decrease at each successive step in the process each successive step in the process

Juvenile Correctional DataJuvenile Correctional Data

•• Another official measure of delinquencyAnother official measure of delinquency

•• Tabulates the number of offenders Tabulates the number of offenders committed to public and private facilitiescommitted to public and private facilities

–– These counts accurately indicate the number These counts accurately indicate the number of juveniles incarcerated for delinquency of juveniles incarcerated for delinquency

Pros and Cons of Official DataPros and Cons of Official Data

•• StrengthStrength

–– Reliable count of juvenilesReliable count of juveniles

•• ArrestedArrested

•• ProcessedProcessed

•• IncarceratedIncarcerated

•• Weakness Weakness

–– Substantial number of cases are dismissed or Substantial number of cases are dismissed or handled informally handled informally

–– UCR reporting is not 100% accurateUCR reporting is not 100% accurate

UCR UCR –– Inherent problemsInherent problems

•• Not all crime is reported to the policeNot all crime is reported to the police

•• Many cases are handled informallyMany cases are handled informally

•• Hierarchy RuleHierarchy Rule

–– When multiple crimes occur in one When multiple crimes occur in one incident the most serious is the one incident the most serious is the one recorded recorded

•• The variety of dispositional options The variety of dispositional options available in the juvenile system available in the juvenile system

Victimization Measures Victimization Measures •• National Crime Victimization Survey National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)(NCVS)

–– Collects individual data on victims, offenders, Collects individual data on victims, offenders, and crimes and crimes

–– Provides a better picture of crime than the Provides a better picture of crime than the UCRUCR

•• StrengthStrength–– More realistic pictureMore realistic picture

•• Weakness Weakness –– Surveys are sent to homes and completed by Surveys are sent to homes and completed by persons other than juveniles persons other than juveniles

SelfSelf--report Measures report Measures •• Gathered from surveys of youths who Gathered from surveys of youths who volunteer information aboutvolunteer information about

–– Drug useDrug use

–– Criminal activity Criminal activity

•• Three key studiesThree key studies–– Denver Youth StudyDenver Youth Study

–– Pittsburgh Youth StudyPittsburgh Youth Study

–– Rochester Youth Development StudyRochester Youth Development Study

�� Collectively these 3 studies form the Causes and Collectively these 3 studies form the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency Program Correlates of Delinquency Program

�� A milestone in A milestone in criminolgicalcriminolgical research research –– constitutes constitutes the largest sharedthe largest shared--measurement ever achieved in measurement ever achieved in delinquency research delinquency research

Pros & ConsPros & Cons•• StrengthStrength

–– Shows that juveniles commit many more Shows that juveniles commit many more offenses than they are arrested foroffenses than they are arrested for

•• Possibly 100 offenses before arrestPossibly 100 offenses before arrest

–– Helps to probe background and reasonHelps to probe background and reason

•• Weakness Weakness

–– Data may not be accurateData may not be accurate

•• Inaccurate memoryInaccurate memory

•• ExaggerationExaggeration

•• ConfusionConfusion

•• Outright lying Outright lying

Trends in Crime & Statistics Trends in Crime & Statistics •• Juvenile crime rates, especially violent Juvenile crime rates, especially violent offenses, increased substantially during offenses, increased substantially during the later 1980s and early 1990sthe later 1980s and early 1990s

•• Possibly due to societal and cultural Possibly due to societal and cultural reasonsreasons

–– More singleMore single--parent familiesparent families

•• The family nucleus may be disintegrating The family nucleus may be disintegrating

•• Extended families are increasingly being spread Extended families are increasingly being spread across the nationacross the nation

•• Gangs and pop culture Gangs and pop culture

•• GenXGenX–– Remorseless, narcissistic, materialistic, and uncaring Remorseless, narcissistic, materialistic, and uncaring

•• Other Other GenXGenX factorsfactors

–– Availability of gunsAvailability of guns

–– PornographyPornography

–– Graphic violence visGraphic violence vis--àà--vis violent imagery vis violent imagery

–– InternetInternet

–– Cable and other mediums Cable and other mediums

So why is juvenile crime down?So why is juvenile crime down?•• Punitive juvenile justice Punitive juvenile justice

–– Offenders subject to increasesOffenders subject to increases

•• SentencesSentences

•• Adult waiversAdult waivers

•• Less restrictions on confidentiality of recordsLess restrictions on confidentiality of records

•• More formalized processing More formalized processing

•• Changing societal valuesChanging societal values

–– Educational programs Educational programs

•• DAREDARE

•• GREATGREAT–– Have helped change youth attitudes Have helped change youth attitudes

•• Community policingCommunity policing

–– Increased involvement of positive influences Increased involvement of positive influences on juveniles on juveniles

–– Filling parental voidsFilling parental voids

•• MentoringMentoring

•• Improved supervision Improved supervision

•• Regression to the meanRegression to the mean

–– The spike of the 1980s and 1990s may be just The spike of the 1980s and 1990s may be just that, a spikethat, a spike

•• The drop between 1994 The drop between 1994 –– 2003 may be a 2003 may be a regression to the mean regression to the mean

•• Incapacitation effect Incapacitation effect

–– Increase in juvenile correction options Increase in juvenile correction options

Juvenile Victimization Juvenile Victimization

•• Juveniles are more likely to be victimized Juveniles are more likely to be victimized than they are to offend than they are to offend –– A fiveA five--year period (1985year period (1985--91), 8591), 85--87 % of 87 % of juveniles were victims of theft or violencejuveniles were victims of theft or violence•• 25% were victims of serious violent offenses25% were victims of serious violent offenses

•• 66% were chronic multiple victims66% were chronic multiple victims

•• Most are both victims and perpetratorsMost are both victims and perpetrators

•• Best predictor of victimization Best predictor of victimization –– Delinquent behaviorDelinquent behavior

–– FriendsFriends

–– MalesMales

–– Alcohol use Alcohol use

•• Juvenile homicide victimization increased Juvenile homicide victimization increased 66% between 198566% between 1985--9595

•• Juveniles were victimized in 20% of family Juveniles were victimized in 20% of family violence incidents violence incidents

•• 3 times more likely to be victim of simple 3 times more likely to be victim of simple assault compared to adults assault compared to adults

•• Many crimes occur at schoolMany crimes occur at school

–– 75% of students report victimization at school 75% of students report victimization at school

Risk Factors Risk Factors •• Juveniles have always been crime proneJuveniles have always been crime prone

–– Commit crime and delinquency for a variety of Commit crime and delinquency for a variety of reasonsreasons

–– Juvenile crime is Juvenile crime is multivariatemultivariate in nature in nature •• No single variable can explain juvenile crime or delinquency No single variable can explain juvenile crime or delinquency

•• Casual and Risk factorsCasual and Risk factors

–– A casual factor is a variable that causes a juvenile to A casual factor is a variable that causes a juvenile to be delinquent be delinquent

–– A risk factor is a variable, present or absent, that is A risk factor is a variable, present or absent, that is correlated with delinquency correlated with delinquency

•• Protective factorProtective factor

–– A variable or characteristic that correlates with not A variable or characteristic that correlates with not committing delinquent acts committing delinquent acts

Risk & Protective Factors Risk & Protective Factors

•• R&P factors can be categorized into six R&P factors can be categorized into six areas:areas:

–– Biology and geneticsBiology and genetics

–– PersonalityPersonality

–– FamilyFamily

–– Social environment Social environment

–– Ecological environment Ecological environment

–– Educational environment Educational environment

Biology and geneticsBiology and genetics•• The concept of The concept of ““bornborn”” versus versus ““mademade””delinquents has always received attentiondelinquents has always received attention–– Much of the research in this regard has been Much of the research in this regard has been haphazard and inconclusivehaphazard and inconclusive

–– Low IQ has been linked to delinquencyLow IQ has been linked to delinquency•• Low IQ spans all economic and social levelsLow IQ spans all economic and social levels

•• How IQ is developed socially or genetically has not How IQ is developed socially or genetically has not been determined been determined

–– Race Race •• No difference between AfricanNo difference between African--American males and American males and whites in younger years whites in younger years –– age 6age 6

•• Differences gradually develop with age Differences gradually develop with age

•• Gender is clearly a predictor of Gender is clearly a predictor of delinquency delinquency

–– Boys are more likely than girls to be involved Boys are more likely than girls to be involved in serious forms of delinquency in serious forms of delinquency

–– Males are more violent and arrested for more Males are more violent and arrested for more violent offenses than their female counterparts violent offenses than their female counterparts

•• Family Family –– research has assessed that family research has assessed that family characteristics likecharacteristics like

–– Parental criminalityParental criminality

–– Child maltreatmentChild maltreatment

–– Poor family practices Poor family practices

•• Are related to delinquency and drug use Are related to delinquency and drug use

Personality Personality

•• Research has shown that certain Research has shown that certain characteristics are predictors of future characteristics are predictors of future delinquency delinquency

–– HyperactivityHyperactivity

–– Restlessness Restlessness

–– RiskRisk--taking behaviortaking behavior

–– Aggressiveness Aggressiveness

Social environment Social environment

•• The social environment for juveniles The social environment for juveniles includesincludes–– PeersPeers

–– Social classSocial class

–– ActivitiesActivities

–– Interests Interests

•• These variables define the social worldThese variables define the social world

•• The negative influence of delinquent peers The negative influence of delinquent peers will outweigh earlier development will outweigh earlier development

Ecological environment Ecological environment

•• Research has shown that small areas Research has shown that small areas within large cities typically have within large cities typically have disproportionate levels of crime and disproportionate levels of crime and violenceviolence

•• Juveniles living in these areas tend to be Juveniles living in these areas tend to be more involved in crime and violence as more involved in crime and violence as well well

Education Education

•• Three broad areas related to education that Three broad areas related to education that foster risk or protective factorsfoster risk or protective factors

–– The school itselfThe school itself

–– The juvenileThe juvenile’’s attitude toward educations attitude toward education

–– The juvenileThe juvenile’’s behavior and performance in schools behavior and performance in school

•• JuvenileJuvenile’’s who do poorly, have weak/no ties to s who do poorly, have weak/no ties to school, change schools, or drop out are more school, change schools, or drop out are more likely to be delinquent and use drugslikely to be delinquent and use drugs

Behavior & lifestyle Behavior & lifestyle

•• Delinquency generally follows a Delinquency generally follows a progressive pathprogressive path

•• Less serious behavior often precedes more Less serious behavior often precedes more serious problem behaviorsserious problem behaviors

•• The Pittsburgh Youth Study identified The Pittsburgh Youth Study identified three developmental pathways of three developmental pathways of delinquent behaviordelinquent behavior

•• Authority conflictAuthority conflict

–– Stubbornness before the age of 12Stubbornness before the age of 12

–– Progress to defiance and avoidance of Progress to defiance and avoidance of authorityauthority

•• CovertCovert

–– Minor acts such as lyingMinor acts such as lying

–– Followed by minor actsFollowed by minor acts

•• Property damageProperty damage

•• Progresses to more serious actsProgresses to more serious acts

•• Overt Overt

–– Minor aggressionMinor aggression

–– Followed by fighting and violence Followed by fighting and violence

Drugs and alcohol Drugs and alcohol

•• Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?

–– Research has not definitively determined the Research has not definitively determined the answeranswer

–– Drug use has been correlated with adverse Drug use has been correlated with adverse consequences consequences

•• National Institute on Drug Abuse (N=611)National Institute on Drug Abuse (N=611)

–– 95% used marijuana 3+ times per week95% used marijuana 3+ times per week

–– 64% used cocaine daily64% used cocaine daily

–– 80% carried a weapon all or most of the time80% carried a weapon all or most of the time

Other behaviors Other behaviors

•• Sexual practicesSexual practices

•• Health Health

•• Safety Safety –– All are risk factors All are risk factors

•• Promiscuity is major risk factorPromiscuity is major risk factor–– Multiple partnersMultiple partners

–– Unprotected sexUnprotected sex

–– Use of drugs/alcohol Use of drugs/alcohol