Correlation between alcohol use and juvenile criminal behavior patterns in Korea

Kim, Hyun Sil

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between juvenile alcohol use and their criminal patterns. The data were collected through questionnaire surveys. Subjects serving for this study were 971 delinquent adolescents in Korea, sampled from 6 juvenile corrective institutions and 2 classification judging institutions, using a census method. Their age range was between 12 and 21. Data were analysed by IBM PC using SAS program. Statistical methods employed were Chi-square and frequency analysis. 1. Of 877 respondents, the number of adolescents committed criminal behaviors while the intoxicated were 230(26.2%), and 647(73.8%) were in a non-intoxicated state. 2. Adolescent under intoxication showed a higher rate of aggressive crimes and assault crimes, whereas adolescents under the non-influence of liquor tended to commit property crimes and Violations of criminal special law. Drunken under intoxication showed the higher rate of aggressive crimes and assault crimes, whereas adolescents under the non drunken state. Most crimes have happened without any tools in both group. 3. In comparison of the alcohol user and the non-user, most alcohol-related crimes among adolescents were committed at AM 0:00 to AM 4:00 during the weekend in the dark, cloudy, and stormy rainy day, while non-alcohol related crimes were at a afternoon of weekday in the clear day. The places that the criminal activities occurred were streets, amusement places such as disco-theque, fields and their own house among alcohol users, whereas victim's house, another person's house and restaurant were chosen among non-alcohol users. 4. The victims assaulted by juvenile offenders in both drunken and non-drunken state were mostly passer-by(65.4%), followed by their friends(25.1%). And the conditions of victims showed a significant differences between the drunken adolescents and the non-drunken adolescents. The victim's conditions assaulted by intoxicated delinquent adolescents were in quarreling or drunken state, whereas non-alcohol related crimes were directed against victims in a sleeping or irresistible state. 5. Almost over the half of delinquent adolescents perceived their delinquency as wrong behaviors, and alcohol non-user tended to more significantly perceive their criminal acts as wrong conducts. About the half of respondents answered that they committed their criminal acts in spite of having a very good judgement while doing crimes, the author did not found a significant difference between the two groups. The reasons given for crimes were manifested as follows: it can be seen that to get money for amusements'(30.4% of all motives) were most common. followed by to commit accidentally the offences'(23.8%). curiosity or heroism'(18.9%). alcohol related crimes tended to be accidental and impulsively without any clear planning, while non-alcohol related crimes tended to be purposeful, directed to make money, motivated by curiosity or a desire to live heroically. In Conclusions, the correlation between alcohol use and juvenile criminal behaviors has been examined in this study. Generally, alcohol use had been found to be highly correlated with aggressive assault crimes including robbery, burglary and rape etc.