Criminal careers: Perceptions of adult offenders. The initiation and utilization of under-aged felons in organized criminal activity; drug distribution networks.
Item
-
Title
-
Criminal careers: Perceptions of adult offenders. The initiation and utilization of under-aged felons in organized criminal activity; drug distribution networks.
-
Identifier
-
AAI9304672
-
identifier
-
9304672
-
Creator
-
Haberfeld, Maria Regina.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Charles Bahn
-
Date
-
1992
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Sociology, Criminology and Penology | Sociology, General | Social Work
-
Abstract
-
The purpose of this study was to examine and describe factors in the initiation process into organized criminal activities of drug dealing--by the under-aged. The theoretical orientation was based on three criminological theories, differential association theory, labelling theory, and ecology of crime, resulting in three hypotheses. Since the subjects were, at the time of initiation between the ages of 10 to 15 (in most cases), their behavior was thought to be influenced by the exposure to a variety of illicit activities in their immediate neighborhoods. The specific method was interviews to retrospectively identify separate mode of introduction into criminal activities, for a sample incarcerated for drug offenses, and one for non-drug offenses. While the drug-group was thought to be introduced, recruited and taught by adult offenders, the non-drug group supposedly entered the criminal way of life either by self-selection or peer association process. It was theorized that the under-aged once involved in a labelled and structured way of life (drug trafficking) will more likely see themselves as cut-off from non-criminal alternatives. Data for this study was collected from 140 inmates, in their early 20's, incarcerated at the Rikers Island Correctional Institution in New York City. The results of this study demonstrate contrasts between the drug and non-drug groups. That support the initiation by adult offenders into drug-related crimes, and indicate that under-aged users see themselves as more clearly labeled as criminals and are less able to perceive or attempt alternatives to a criminal life style. These findings could assist in the development of future intervention and prevention policies.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
