The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14

What 10 the relation of sex TO Juvenile crimo7
The evidence collected by Mr.. Morrison proves.
In the first place. that girls arc less liable 70
come within the clutches OF tho criminal law
than boys. This In true not only In England
and the United States. but nil over the
civilized world. Tho causes OF this difference
IN the criminal dispositions of the two sexes
are not to be found In the fact that females are
more leniently dealt with than males. or on the
ground that the difference observed is q prod
uct Of different social conditions. Both OF these
causes operate to q certain extent In
tho statistics OF female offences, but the r com
bined action ia not sufficient to scco,nt for
all tho phenomena. After an ample allow
ance Is made for the part played by admins
trative ~leniency on the one hand and social con-
ditions on the other, II still remains incontesta-
bic that Juveniles of the male sex constitute the
bulk Of youthful offenders. The author would
seek for q complete explanation of the phe-
nomena' in tho biological differences which
exist between tho sexes. These differences are
both mental and physical. They are individual.
and not social. They are fundamental, and not
fanciful. and will always exercise n paramount
influence over human actions. These biological
differences affect not only tho amount of crime
committed by the two sexes, but also its nature;
boys commit . larger proportion OF serious
offences against person and property than girls.
Now let Us us mark the relation OF aye tn
juvenile crime. Tho data brought together In
this volume show that the form assumed by
Juvenile delinquency Is, to q very large extent.
dependent on the degree OF maturity which the
offender has attained. Tho very young offender
Is prevented by physiological neon leteness
from being anything but u vagrant or u petty
thief. and one accordingly ends that. In tho
Overwhelming majority OF cases, the very young
their criminal career as vaGabonds
and thieves Mental and physical immaturlty
renders II impossible for them to be serious
offenders against person or property. As, how
ever. the mental and bodily faculties approach
their full development, the capacity for COM
hitting crime increases In the same ratio. and
the offences OF Juveniles vsrging upon man
hood assume q closer resemblance to adult
crime. On the whole. however. juvenile
crime always remains less grave In character
than I'D ult crime, but II must not be regarded rs
of less moment on this account 1t Ia of the Ut
most importance to society that Juveniles who
are exhibiting o pronounced tendency to acquire
criminal habits should DO carefully dealt with
before these habits have had time to become
confirmed. Once tho mind mas acquired q rigid
criminal bent the task of reformation becomes
difficult In the extreme. In many cases II 10
questionable whether an old offender has tho
power within him TO abandon his sinister career.
1t 10 tho life he has led from . child; II 10 the
only kind OF life he 10 thoroughly At home in;
every Abro Of his mind has become adapted to
1t, and the life OF an orderly. weil-conducted
citizen IL irksomo TO him. A criminal OF this
type almost invariably begins his career In
carly youth.