Parents, Juveniles, and Justice.(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)

Americans are holding parents accountable for their children's criminal activity. Large majorities say parents should be held legally responsible if their child commits a crime with the parents' guns. Americans are tougher on juvenile law breakers today than they were 20 years ago. Today, large majorities believe that teenagers who commit violent crimes should be tried in the same courts as adult offenders; around a quarter say they should be given more lenient treatment in a juvenile court.

 
Question: On April 20 (1999), some high school students 
in Littleton, Colorado attacked and killed some 
of their classmates using guns, pipe bombs 
and other explosives. What do you think is ... ? 
 
The main reason why Littleton, 
Colorado shooting happened 
 
Parents didn't pay 
enough attention        32% 
 
Peer pressure           11 
Lack of attention 
by the school 
 
Kids had                 10 
psychological 
problem 
 
Kids were                 7 
angry/frustrated 
 
Note: Top five 
responses shown 
Source: CBS News 
May 1999. 
 
Note: Table made from a bar graph. 
Question: How big a factor do you think the following things 
are in determining whether a teenager tries illegal drugs 
or not? Would you say ...? 
 
Major factor in determining whether a teenager tries illegal drugs 
 
Peer pressure                              82% 
 
Lack of parental 
 supervision                               79 
 
How easy or difficult it is for the 
teen to get access to drugs                74 
 
The portrayal of drug use in 
movies, music and TV                       55 
 
Whether the teen's 
parents drink or smoke                     52 
 
Note: Top five 
responses shown. 
 
Source: The Pew 
Research Center for 
the People & the Press, 
February 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from a bar graph. 
Question: Would you generally ...? 
 
Don't know                                 7% 
 
Oppose                                    24% 
 
Favor a law that                          69% 
would hold 
parents legally 
responsible if ...