What new concept did the Delinquency in a Birth Cohort study explore and how have its findings shaped justice policy?
What will be an ideal response?
The researchers-and Marvin Wolfgang in particular-in this study used official records to follow the criminal careers of almost 10,000 boys born in Philadelphia in 1945 until they reached age 18. They found the following:about two-thirds of the cohort never had contact with police authorities;about one-third had at least one contact with police during their adolescence;of the repeat offenders, a relatively small subgroup was arrested five times or more. These were chronic offenders who made up 6 percent of the total; and the chronic offenders were responsible for 5,305 arrests, or 51.9 percent of them. They committed 71 percent of the homicides, 73 percent of the rapes, 82 percent of the robberies, and 69 percent of the aggravated assaults.The chronic offender concept has had a great impact on the criminal justice system. If a small number of offenders commit almost all serious crimes, then it would have an appreciable influence on the crime rate. This thought pattern has been responsible for the get-tough laws designed to put habitual offenders behind bars for long periods of time. Later studies have shown that repeat offenders do exist.
You might also like to view...
Discuss the differences between a preliminary hearing and a grand jury.
What will be an ideal response?
There is no such thing as re-direct examination
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
If a 17-year-old male committed a homicide, he could not be given the death penalty because of ______.
A. Cooper v. Pate B. Atkins v. Virginia C. Estelle v. Gamble D. Roper v. Simmons
When is a probable cause hearing necessary?
A) When there is an extended delay before the defendant appears before a magistrate B) When the arrest was made without a warrant C) When the suspect is being held without bail D) When the suspect requests one