No abstract

In 1980, Phoenix, Arizona, experienced a “crime wave.” A structural equation model based on a two-wave survey of the population shows that the crime wave had a powerful impact that was almost a mirror image of what the fear of crime literature would predict. Demographic groups thought to be most fearful (e.g., women and the elderly) were least affected while groups thought to be least fearful (e.g., well-educated whites) were affected most. In addition to demographic factors, our analysis demonstrates that crime rate perceptions and confidence in the police are integral components of fear, especially in the context of a crime wave. These findings have important implications for crime policy specifically and for criminological research generally.

The objective of this study was to compare the recidivism rates of juvenile sexual offenders with those of other juvenile offenders once they became young adults. The authors found that the juveniles adjudicated for a sexual offense had a significantly higher rate of recidivism for sexual offenses as adults than did the comparison group, but rearrest rates for sexual offenses were low in both groups. The juvenile nonsexual offenders had higher rates of adult recidivism for all other types of offenses.

No abstract

A treatment group and a nontreatment (control) group were comprised of 145 jail inmates who were screened for chemical dependency and who were assigned randomly to the two groups. Treatment involved 72 hours of group therapy based on Glasser's (1985) "Reality Therapy." Post release criminal behavior was evaluated for a period of 2 years after treatment. The analysis of recidivism using the National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index-II indicated no significant difference in recidivism between treatment and nontreatment groups. Characteristics of successful chemical dependency treatment are discussed.