Unobtrusive Detection of Signs of Potential Juvenile Delinquency

Abstract

The study determined whether school records contain data which would help to identify those children who are most likely to become delinquents. The names of 108 delinquent children were obtained from juvenile court records. Each was matched according to sex, grade level, and school attended with a non-delinquent. From the cumulative school records data were collected on notable change and estimates of academic performance and achievement level, tardiness, attendance pattern and average days absent from school, return of school health record information, the number of residential and school changes, and marital status of parents. The observed differences between the delinquent and non-delinquent group were significant in the predicted direction. Implications for school personnel in detection of signs of potential juvenile delinquency and possible intervention were discussed.