The zone between social acceptance and juvenile delinquency

Abstract

DELINQUENCY is not a new term or a new phenomenon. Frequent use of the phrase and extensive publicity about it have brought to the situation in recent years a notoriety which would be impressive even if there were no increase in occurrence. There are good reasons for all citizens, and especially for children's physicians, to be interested in antisocial behavior of children, for it is an acknowledged problem of the day and appears to be more conspicuous as the years pass. The number of juvenile delinquency court cases tripled between 1940 and 1958 which is a far greater increase than that in child population in the same period. In any year a little more than 2 per cent of all children aged 10 through 17 years will be referred to juvenile courts. A better idea of the size of the problem is gained f rom an authoritative estimate that 12 per cent of all children will at some time during their years of 10 through 17 be referred to courts. Roughly 20 per cent of all boys will, during this age period, be referred to courts, for the ratio of male to female delinquents is 5:1.1 These statistics refer only to official or legal delinquency, the violation of laws or