Book Reviews : The Adolescent Girl in Conflict
| Published date | 01 September 1966 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455056601200315 |
| Author | A. Callum |
| Date | 01 September 1966 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
erial from twelve Magistrates’ Courts,
tween use of imprisonment and use of
he has examined sentencing in detail,
probation. Not only do the courts that
to see whether or not the differences in
show greater leniency, by not imprison-
sentencing are associated with variations
ing a high proportion of offenders, make
in the types of offenders and offences
little use of probation and fines, ~but
confronting the magistrates in different
the courts with the highest imprisonment
areas.
rates use probation and discharges more
Two samples were selected from court
frequently.
registers for the four-year period 1951-
The author’s
recommendations for
1954. The main sample was o~f seventy
achieving greater consistency in sentenc-
male offenders from each court, aged
ing highlight and clarify the problems
twenty-one and over, convicted of off-
involved. He points out that it may be
ences against property without violence.
that variations in sentencing reflect diff-
The second sample was smaller; eighteen
erent ideas of how to achieve the aims
cases from each court, of indecent assault
of sentencing, ra,ther than disagreement
on young persons under the age of six-
as to what these aims are. Hood believes
teen. The twelve courts were divided
that only when more information is
into four groups according to the rela-
made available by research about the
tive use made of imprisonment for .the
effectiveness of the various kinds of
property offenders the range being be-
treatment., for different kinds of offen-
twecn 50 per cent and under 15 per cent
ders, can consistency in sentencing be
imprisoned. These differences in im-
achieved.
prisonment rates were then compared,
KATE LYON
taking into account differences in -the
offenders and in the seriousness of their
offences. These comparisons, in turn,
The Adolescent
were related to &dquo;community character-
istics&dquo;, that is, the nature of the local
Girl in Conflict
community, its social structure and crime
G. Konopka
...
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