Criminology Research Council grant ; (17/81)
This study was based on interviews with two groups of adolescents in two selected regions in Adelaide. The first group had been charged with 'wilful damage' offences and had been dealt with by the authorities (e.g. police, Juvenile Aid Panels). The second group were known to be offenders by street workers (social workers) but had not come to the attention of the authorities.
The interviews were designed is in-depth studies of the family and socialisation backgrounds on the subjects, and a phenomenological approach to the subjects' understandings of the meanings of their wilful damage or vandalistic actions. Interviews were conducted by trained research assistants. Subjects were interviewed individually, in a variety of venues, including homes, community welfare offices, coffee shops. In a few cases subjects were paid out-of-pocket travelling expenses to attend the interviews. Before the interviews were conducted, each subject was assured of strict confidentiality about his/her responses to the questions. In addition, each subject was asked whether he/she was a willing participant in the interview.
The most salient finding of the study was the way in which the subjects closely identified with the prevailing ('respectable') values of their respective communities. They saw their actions as essentially bad, stupid or anti-social. On the whole, they saw their actions as one-off expressions of anger, disappointment or alienation and, on reflection, experienced considerable guilt.
It was argued, in the final report, that to reduce levels of juvenile wilful damage in the two regions examined in the study, a process of extensive youth consultation, preferably through a structured or institutionalised framework, should be set up, to identify the recreational and extra-educational desires and needs of young people. Further, it was argued that young people ought to be actively involved in the establishment and on-going management of the recreational and extra-school educational facilities in the regions under examination. This would give the young people a sense of belonging, or citizenship, which they demonstrably do not have at present. Further, it would enable them to develop skills and capacities to participate integratively in the community.