SOCIAL CLASS, SOCIAL AREAS AND DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 55812
• Journal: Sociology and Social Research Volume: 63 Issue: 1 Dated: October 1978 Pages: 49-72
• Author(s): J W C Johnstone
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0013; 76JN-99-0004; A-70-52R; 1-09-25-0410; 2-09-25-0410-3; 2-09-25-1138-04
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored; OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF FAMILY STATUS AND AREA STATUS ON LEVELS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR ARE ANALYZED USING SELF-REPORT DATA FOR 1,237 CHICAGO, ILL. YOUTHS WHO RESPONDED TO SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES.

Abstract

THE QUESTIONNAIRES COVERED A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS RELEVANT TO ADOLESCENT LIFE, AND INCLUDED QUESTIONS REGARDING 30 ILLEGAL OR QUASI-LEGAL BEHAVIORS, QUESTIONS CONCERNING POLICE CONTACTS, AND ITEMS REGARDING VICTIMIZATION. WITHIN THE CHICAGO STANDARD METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA, RESPONDENTS WERE SELECTED FROM A TOTAL OF 221 DIFFERENT CENSUS TRACTS. RESPONSES WERE ANALYZED IN TERMS OF INTERSECTION OF FAMILY STATUS AND AREA STATUS. IT IS FOUND THAT BOTH SERIOUS AND COMMONPLACE VARIETIES OF DELINQUENT EXPRESSION ARE LINKED TO STATUS CONTEXTS, AND THAT THERE IS LITTLE SUPPORT FOR THE CONTENTION THAT DELINQUENCY IS INDEPENDENT OF SOCIAL POSITION. ALTHOUGH PREDOMINANTLY LOWER-CLASS COMMUNITIES MORE OFTEN EXPOSE ADOLESCENTS TO CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, THEY ARE NOT THE CONTEXTS WHICH GENERATE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF DELINQUENCY. THE SITUATION OF BEING A 'HAVE NOT' IN A COMMUNITY OF 'HAVES' ACCOUNTS FOR SEVERAL TYPES OF NONNORMATIVE BEHAVIOR WHICH DO NOT FIT WELL WITH CONVENTIONAL STRATIFICATION OR ECOLOGICAL MODES OF EXPLANATION. IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THERE IS NO TYPE OF DELINQUENCY IN THE RESULTS WHERE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OCCURS AMONG LOWER-CLASS YOUTH IN LOW-STATUS AREAS; ALTHOUGH THE HIGHEST VALUES ON ALL SEVEN DELINQUENCY INDEXES DO OCCUR AMONG LOWER-CLASS JUVENILES, THEY ARE FOUND AMONG THOSE LIVING IN MIDDLE- OR HIGH-STATUS COMMUNITIES. RATES FOR FIGHTING AND WEAPON OFFENSES, BURGLARY, LARCENY, AND ROBBERY, AND DRUG OFFENSES ARE THE HIGHEST AMONG LOW-STATUS YOUTH IN MIDDLE-STATUS AREAS, WHILE RATES FOR AUTOMOBILE OFFENSES, RESIDUAL PROPERTY OFFENSES, STATUS VIOLATIONS, UNIFORM CRIME INDEX OFFENSES, AND ARRESTS ARE FOUND AMONG LOW-STATUS YOUTH LIVING IN HIGH-STATUS AREAS. TABULAR STUDY DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)