Chapter Two Chapter Two

Measuring Offenses by and Measuring Offenses by and against Juvenilesagainst Juveniles

Problems with definitions: Problems with definitions:

How young can a child be to fall under the jurisdiction of juvenile How young can a child be to fall under the jurisdiction of juvenile court? court? In the early days of the juvenile court in Illinois, there were cases In the early days of the juvenile court in Illinois, there were cases of two-year-olds brought before the court for “incorrigibility!” How of two-year-olds brought before the court for “incorrigibility!” How young can they be today?young can they be today?

Seven? Eight? Nine? Ten? Seven? Eight? Nine? Ten? 

Varies by state, but most will introduce children to the court process Varies by state, but most will introduce children to the court process only if they are at least ten.only if they are at least ten.

What is the maximum age of a youth that can be adjudicated in What is the maximum age of a youth that can be adjudicated in juvenile court?juvenile court?

15? 16? 17? 18?15? 16? 17? 18?

Again, what constitutes a juvenile varies from state to state. Again, what constitutes a juvenile varies from state to state.

Measuring Offenses by and against JuvenilesMeasuring Offenses by and against Juveniles

What is considered “abuse?” What is considered “abuse?” Is it spanking the child? How can we Is it spanking the child? How can we tell a child is “incorrigible?” Are you “neglecting” your child if he tell a child is “incorrigible?” Are you “neglecting” your child if he stays in the car while you pay for gas? Again, some of the stays in the car while you pay for gas? Again, some of the concepts used in defining violations are ambiguous. concepts used in defining violations are ambiguous. 

How do we measure juvenile crime? How do we measure juvenile crime? Typically, researchers will Typically, researchers will examine data from one of these many sources. examine data from one of these many sources. 

FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR)FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) National Center for Juvenile JusticeNational Center for Juvenile Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention (OJJDP)Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention (OJJDP) National Center on Child Abuse and NeglectNational Center on Child Abuse and Neglect National Children’s Advocating CenterNational Children’s Advocating Center National Resource Center on Child Sexual AbuseNational Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse American Humane AssociationAmerican Humane Association National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of ChildrenNational Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Children

Measuring Offenses by and against JuvenilesMeasuring Offenses by and against Juveniles

“ “The government is very keen on amassing statistics. They collect The government is very keen on amassing statistics. They collect them, add to them, raise them to the nth power, take the cube them, add to them, raise them to the nth power, take the cube root, and prepare wonderful diagrams. But what you must never root, and prepare wonderful diagrams. But what you must never forget is that every one of these figures comes in the first instance forget is that every one of these figures comes in the first instance from the chowty dar (village watchman) who puts down what he from the chowty dar (village watchman) who puts down what he damn pleases.damn pleases.

-Frank Hagan-Frank Hagan

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) – randomly selected – randomly selected homes, adult answers questions about their experiences with homes, adult answers questions about their experiences with crime, collected by Bureau of Justice Statistics. Underestimates crime, collected by Bureau of Justice Statistics. Underestimates delinquency because only questions focusing on seven crimes for delinquency because only questions focusing on seven crimes for people 12 -17 is collected and no questions concerning crimes people 12 -17 is collected and no questions concerning crimes against victims younger children.against victims younger children.

Measuring Offenses by and against JuvenilesMeasuring Offenses by and against Juveniles

FBI’s UCRFBI’s UCR – most commonly used, but still offers only a partial – most commonly used, but still offers only a partial picture because of the hierarchy rule of listing only the most picture because of the hierarchy rule of listing only the most serious crime per incident per offender.serious crime per incident per offender.

  

NIBRSNIBRS -- an improvement over the UCR because it is “incident -- an improvement over the UCR because it is “incident based.” That is, reports are made on each crime reported rather based.” That is, reports are made on each crime reported rather than just the most serious onethan just the most serious one

We also have unofficial sources that gather data about juveniles:We also have unofficial sources that gather data about juveniles: Self-report dataSelf-report data Police observation studiesPolice observation studies

Measuring Offenses by and against JuvenilesMeasuring Offenses by and against Juveniles

National Youth Survey (NYS)—National Youth Survey (NYS)—nationwide self-report survey of nationwide self-report survey of more than 1700 youths between 11 and 17. Same group have more than 1700 youths between 11 and 17. Same group have been surveyed every year since 1976. Other self-report studies been surveyed every year since 1976. Other self-report studies are also available. The strength is that these surveys focus on are also available. The strength is that these surveys focus on juvenile crime. However, there is sometimes embellishment or juvenile crime. However, there is sometimes embellishment or outright lying that occurs with youth. outright lying that occurs with youth.

   Victim reportsVictim reports – Developed in part by National Opinion Research – Developed in part by National Opinion Research

Center, these reports lead to discoveries about the nature of the Center, these reports lead to discoveries about the nature of the dark figure of crime. That is, let us know how the UCR rates were dark figure of crime. That is, let us know how the UCR rates were only scratching the surface of crime. Victim rates are sometimes only scratching the surface of crime. Victim rates are sometimes twice as high as reported rates. Now gathered by the Bureau of twice as high as reported rates. Now gathered by the Bureau of Justice statistics through cooperative arrangement with US Census Justice statistics through cooperative arrangement with US Census Bureau. The report includes 42,000 surveyed households (given Bureau. The report includes 42,000 surveyed households (given twice a year). Like UCR, counts only the most serious of crimes twice a year). Like UCR, counts only the most serious of crimes per incident.per incident.

Measuring Offenses by and against JuvenilesMeasuring Offenses by and against Juveniles