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Indiana University Studies 



7. Abnormality 16 



At the time when the cases covered by this study of juvenile 

 delinquency in Gary came to the attention of the court there 

 were no facilities whatever for adequate physical and mental 

 examinations. At that time there was not even a detention home 

 in connection with the court so that the cases might be kept 

 under observation for a time. Therefore only those subnormal 

 physical and mental conditions readily apparent can be noted 

 here — as "epileptic, crosseyed, and nearsighted" in one case, and 

 "feeble-minded' 1 in another. 



An examination of the cases in this study as to the most 

 apparent physical and mental subnormal qualities shows that 

 the Colored and New Immigration furnish by far the highest 

 relative proportions of subnormal cases followed in order by the 

 American and Old Immigration. Of the total number of cases 

 of all races or nationalities, 24.5 per cent, or almost one-fourth, 

 are subnormal physically or mentally or both, a proportion 

 without doubt lower than the actual facts, if complete informa- 

 tion were at hand, would justify. This result is consistent with 

 the general belief that there exists a relation between physical 

 and mental weakness and abnormal conduct. 17 



C. Cosmic Considerations 



8. Seasonal Delinquency 18 



An examination of the cases of juvenile delinquents in this 

 study arranged according to months of the year in which the 

 offenses were committed shows that the greatest number of cases 

 appear in the summer months followed in order by winter, autumn, 

 and spring. This result is consistent with the statement of Mabel 

 Carter Rhoades, that the greatest amount of delinquency occurs 

 in the summer months as this is the season of adventurous wrong- 

 doing. 19 



lfi Original tables, pp. 23-25. See Preface to this study. 



17 Mangold, p. 230; Cesare Lombroso; Breckenridge and Abbott, p. 147; Travis, 

 xxvi; W. Douglas Morrison (Juvenile Offenders), p. 84; Lilburn Merril, M.D., 

 National Conference of Charities and Corrections, Seattle, 1913; Margaret Otis, 

 Survey 32:488; Bert Hall, Journal of Proceedings of the National Education Asso- 

 ciation, Denver, July, 1919, p. 217; Julia E. Richman, same, p. 222; Richard A. Bolt. 



18 Original tables, pp. 25, 26. See Preface to this study. 



i 'Mabel Carter Rhoades. 



