ABSTRACT
In the year immediately preceding the study, 461 cities of about the size of the one in which this study was undertaken reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation that approximately 64 percent of all charges were for petty offenses. From the police and social agency records the following superficial characteristics of the offenders were noted early in the study: AH but one were males and all had been married at least once, although none appear to have had a very satisfactory family life. A series of hypotheses was extracted from the Merton essay and tested in light of the case materials on the petty offenders. Special efforts at job placement for the petty offender are certainly important, because it becomes progressively more difficult for him to achieve steady employment. Recreational centers for teenage children, operated by and for the youngsters for the expressed purpose of keeping them out of unhealthy leisure time activities are the third source.
