Re-Examining the Importance of Crime Severity Indices

• In Event: Juvenile Court Outcomes and Experiences of Incarcerated Youth: Race, Gender, Offense Severity, and Role Conflict

Abstract

Juvenile justice research relies on definitions of delinquency, often grounded in a legal framework, as defined by data sources, such as the UCR. This research re-examines important findings in juvenile justice research, specifically the Pathways to Desistance Study, and applies an objective measure of Offense Severity through the implementation and use of the Sellin-Wolfgang Severity Index.

Results and the importance/future of Crime Severity Indices is discussed. New Crime Severity measures should be constructed to better reflect the current generation.

Author

• Christopher Jay Weagle, University of Massachusetts Lowell