Myths and Facts About Youth Crime Notes

Myths and Facts About Youth Crime

Persistent Misconceptions

• Myth That Nothing Changes: Despite variations in activities, some aspects of youth crime remain constant.
  • Bernard (1992) supports this view based on 200 years of U.S. data.
  • Overall crime volume increased in Canada, but general patterns remain consistent.
  • Most youth crime involves minor property offenses; serious personal injury or death is rare.
  • Young males are predominantly involved.
  • Public perception often pessimistically exaggerates youth crime.
  • Technological advancements lead to new cybercrimes like cyber-bullying and hacking.
  • West (1991) notes that while the crimes may have transformed, they are still present as now, youths offer illegal items such as “speed”, “crack”, and “ecstasy”.

The Myth of the Good Old Days

• Belief that youth crime is currently worse, with youth lacking respect for authority.
  • Bernard argues this myth is sometimes true, sometimes false, but often believed without scrutiny.
  • People tend to romanticize the past.
• Is Youth Crime More Serious Now?
  • Interpretation of historical data is crucial; statistics alone aren't definitive.

Conflicting Views on Youth Crime Severity

• Carrigan (1991): Argues youth crime was out of control in the 1990s.
  • Post-WWII era saw increased offenses, especially major and violent crimes.
  • Increased alcohol and drug use among young people.
  • Media highlighted brutal crimes, with gangs terrorizing communities.
  • Notes that a 1965 report stated that gang delinquency wasn't an issue in large urban areas of Canada.
• Sociological Perspective: Suggests increases in crime statistics may not reflect actual changes in youth behavior.
  • Creation of juvenile courts and population growth contribute to increased official crime rates.
  • Schissel (1997) argues the Young Offenders Act increased crime rates due to more arrests and court appearances (pp. 80–81).
  • Changes in policing, legislation, and public pressure influence official crime rates.
  • Official statistics may not accurately reflect youth behavior over time.
• Tanner (1996): Counters that youth crime and gang activity are not more serious today.
  • Cites historical examples, like 1940s Globe and Mail reports of street gang violence (p. 1).
  • Mentions a 1945 Halloween riot in Toronto involving 7,000 people protesting arrests for vandalism (Campbell, 1998; Tanner, 1996, p. 3).
  • Bernard (1992, p. 24) references street gang violence in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (15th-century Italy).
• Zatz (1987) on Gangs: Gang activity is often over-reported and exaggerated by media and police.
  • Research in Phoenix, Arizona, showed no significant difference in offenses between gang members and non-gang delinquents.
  • Police and media have vested interests in emphasizing crime for job security and funding.

Interpretation Challenges

• Limited and non-comparable information across different periods complicates analysis.
• Terms “youth crime” and “delinquency” are used inconsistently.
  • “Youth crime” statistics measure Criminal Code offenses.
  • “Delinquency” statistics include non-criminal “offenses” like incorrigibility.
  • The Young Offenders Act replaced the terms