Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1976

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Economics

Major Professor

David W. Brown

Committee Members

James Snell, Charles L. Cleland

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency has become a major concern in both large cities and small communities. However, in the past most research under-taken has dealt with those delinquency problems in city and suburban areas. Very little research has been addressed specifically to rural settings. This study was a modest attempt to examine delinquency problems and services in rural Tennessee. The analysis included three components: 1) compilation of existing secondary data about rural-urban delinquency patterns in the United States and Tennessee, 2) a survey of officials and professionals working with juvenile problems in East Tennessee, and 3) preliminary estimation of costs associated with some possibilities for improving juvenile services in rural counties. Analysis of available data showed that serious crime in the United States increased 38 percent between 1969 and 1974. In general, suburban areas experienced the greatest increases, followed by cities and rural areas. In Tennessee, the crime rate has been somewhat below the national level. However, from 1969 through 1974, its crime rate rose far more than the nation-wide trend. Secondary data showed that juvenile involvement in crime has risen rapidly. Juveniles accounted for nearly half of all arrests for serious crimes in the United States in 1974. Nation-wide, urban areas experienced higher juvenile delinquency rates than did rural areas. In Tennessee the same pattern holds true, with urban counties reporting a 1974 juvenile delinquency rate of 32.1 per 1,000 inhabitants under 18 years of age, compared with a mean rural county rate of 12.1. During the summer of 1975, interviews were conducted with 51 judges, sheriffs, probation workers, counselors, and others concerned with juvenile problems in 15 East Tennessee Development District counties. Respondents felt that juvenile delinquency was on the increase and that offenders were younger than in the past. The major cause of delinquency, as perceived by the respondents, was an unfavorable home environment. The respondents saw no major differences between rural and urban areas as to the major causes of delinquency or the types of offenses committed. Judges, law enforcement personnel, human service workers and others interviewed within this area seemed very interested in alternatives to institutionalization (detention homes, training schools). Most respond-ents felt that not enough time and money was being spent on delinquency problems. Major areas needing more attention in their view were: professional counseling, better probation services, improved recreation facilities, and better detention facilities. Nine preventive and rehabili-tational programs were discussed in the survey. Of these, the majority of respondents felt that recreation facilities, special classes, probation and parole services, foster homes, and volunteer programs could be organized at the individual county level. The majority of respondents felt that detention and treatment centers would best be suited to a more District-wide operation, while respondents were some-what undecided about the service area for continued training programs, group homes, and professional counseling services. Because of low population and limited tax bases, many rural counties cannot afford to provide their own youth services. Pooling of resources among counties may be the most feasible way to provide a high quality level of some services. An attempt was made to study four specific services—group homes, expanded probation and parole services, volunteer programs, and professional counseling services—and two or three alternative ways of providing each of these services using a simulated budget approach. Detailed cost information based on actual programs was scarce, so it was necessary to rely heavily on subjective estimates when constructing these budgets. The preliminary results of this analysis suggested that 1) pooling or contractual arrangements can in some cases lower costs, and 2) noncost considerations are very important in the decision-making process. In the course of conducting this study, several program-support needs related to juvenile services in rural areas became apparent. Some of these are: needs for better collection and distribution of data about delinquency patterns, better training for juvenile officials and workers, and improved communications among agencies and individuals. In each of these areas, attention must be given to the fact that many rural workers and officials often carry several responsibilities and, therefore, can devote only part-time to juvenile problems. Also, programs must be organized so as to eliminate as much travel as possible for these persons. While state and federal assistance is important, local officials and workers can take some positive steps of their own toward improvement of juvenile services. In general, rural areas experience many of the same problems as urban areas. However, because the resources available in rural areas (funds, personnel, etc.) are often limited, solutions may be more diffi-cult to achieve.

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