Juvenile Delinquency in the 1950s
Why did juvenile delinquency occur in the 1950s and what precautions were taken to prevent it? (Project Summary)
This project will focus on the British criminal justice system in the 1950s regarding juvenile behaviour. The research will explore the ways used to prevent juvenile crime, the social and psychological motivation for crime, and the way that the criminal justice system aimed to rehabilitate those convicted of a juvenile offence. To explore these areas an understanding of ‘delinquency,’ and its’ consequences is needed. According to Wirt and Briggs ‘delinquency involves personal suffering as well as a loss to society.’1 This suggests that juveniles are not mindfully delinquent as their actions have repercussions on their own lives. Yet, it has also been claimed that delinquent juveniles should not be held fully responsible for their actions due to their age. Therefore the criminal justice system has mirrored this premise from the industrial revolution onwards, when children became protected by legislation governing child labour and subsequent areas involving juvenile activity.2 Furthermore, there have been claims regarding the relationship between juvenile delinquency and social upbringing, hence social class. This is a much debated area and one in which this research will explore further by focusing on primary sources from areas with differing social conditions. This argument is well represented by Sutherland who claims that criminal apprehension is heightened by those who are economically advantaged;3 a general principle for many and the underlying theme of this research. A number of reasons for juvenile delinquency were given in the form of reports from the County Borough of Stockport, the Borstal Recreational Centre and the Juvenile Delinquency Panel from the City of Nottingham Education Committee. At the heart of these was the perception of social class, supported by medical and legal institutions following the theory of eugenics; a
This project will focus on the British criminal justice system in the 1950s regarding juvenile behaviour. The research will explore the ways used to prevent juvenile crime, the social and psychological motivation for crime, and the way that the criminal justice system aimed to rehabilitate those convicted of a juvenile offence. To explore these areas an understanding of ‘delinquency,’ and its’ consequences is needed. According to Wirt and Briggs ‘delinquency involves personal suffering as well as a loss to society.’1 This suggests that juveniles are not mindfully delinquent as their actions have repercussions on their own lives. Yet, it has also been claimed that delinquent juveniles should not be held fully responsible for their actions due to their age. Therefore the criminal justice system has mirrored this premise from the industrial revolution onwards, when children became protected by legislation governing child labour and subsequent areas involving juvenile activity.2 Furthermore, there have been claims regarding the relationship between juvenile delinquency and social upbringing, hence social class. This is a much debated area and one in which this research will explore further by focusing on primary sources from areas with differing social conditions. This argument is well represented by Sutherland who claims that criminal apprehension is heightened by those who are economically advantaged;3 a general principle for many and the underlying theme of this research. A number of reasons for juvenile delinquency were given in the form of reports from the County Borough of Stockport, the Borstal Recreational Centre and the Juvenile Delinquency Panel from the City of Nottingham Education Committee. At the heart of these was the perception of social class, supported by medical and legal institutions following the theory of eugenics; a