Criminology Research Council grant ; (16/74)
The results of this study were first published in the paper read at the Second Austral-Asian Pacific Forensic Sciences Congress held at the University of New South Wales, 20-23 July 1978. The publication of the final report was delayed due to the pressing commitments of the principal researcher.
To test the feasibility of identifying violent offenders a comprehensive study of the medical, social and psychological characteristics of two groups of juvenile offenders was carried out at the Minda Children's Court in Sydney. The study was conducted between mid 1975 and mid 1976. Subjects were identified with the cooperation of court officials and the magistrates presiding over the juvenile courts. Data were collected by means of standard psychological tests, personal interviews and examination by a neurologist. One group of 50 offenders involved cases of violence (mainly robbery, sexual and non-sexual assaults and homicide), while the other group of 50 charged with property offences (mainly break, enter and steal and larceny of motor vehicles). Both groups were in the age range 14 to 18 years.
The most striking impression gained from the comparison of the personal and social attributes of the violent and property offenders was the almost identical profile of the two groups. They were virtually indistinguishable on such factors as age, family size, birth order, school leaving age, word know- ledge, school attendance, school or employment status, parental composition of family, age of separation from parents, country of birth of offender and of parents. Differences were found, however, between the aggregate of both groups and the general community. The offender groups, for example, were found to score significantly lower on tests of intelligence. Also they tended to come from lower social class backgrounds. The clear majority of both groups however were assessed as 'normal' as far as brain dysfunction was concerned.
In summary, this comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of youthful offenders found no support for the belief that there is an identifiable 'violent 10 per cent' who can be distinguished from others and given special treatment appropriate to their needs.