NCJ Number
10013
Date Published
1972
Length
128 pages
Annotation
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE CONSIDERED SOCIOLOGICALLY, WITH ADULT CRIME RELATED TO A CAUSAL PROCESS ORIGINATING DURING THE CRIMINAL'S YOUTH.
Abstract
THIS STUDY CONSIDERS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE. IT BEGINS WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CRIMINALITY AND AGE, IN TERMS OF DEFINING CRIMES AND IN TERMS OF DEFINING CRIMES AND IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONTROLLING ADULT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT MOST ADULT CRIME IS RELATED TO A CAUSAL PROCESS WHICH ORIGINATES DURING THE CRIMINAL'S YOUTH. OTHER VARIABLES USED IN THIS STUDY TO TYPIFY CAREERS IN CRIME INCLUDE THE KINDS OF OFFENSES INVOLVED AND THE OFFENDER'S CRIMINAL HISTORY. A MAJOR CONSIDERATION IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF CRIME IS THE PRESENCE OF AN IDENTIFIABLE VICTIM. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ONLY BEHAVIOR WHICH PRODUCES A DEFINITE AND INTENDED VICTIM BE DEFINED AS CRIMINAL IN THE PROPER SCOPE OF THE CRIMINAL LAW. THIS DEFINITION WOULD EASE THE PRESENT BURDEN ON BOTH THE COURTS AND THE POLICE. THE JUDICIAL PROCESS IS SURVEYED FROM ARREST THROUGH SENTENCING. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT DUE TO THE MULTIPLICITY OF POLICE CONCERNS, THE QUALITY OF POLICE-PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE COURT SYSTEM, SEVERAL REFORMS ARE NECESSARY FOR A MORE SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. FURTHER, IMPROVEMENT OF CORRECTIONAL PRACTICES COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MORE SYSTEMATIC RELIANCE ON RESEARCH AND THE INTRODUCTION OF GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN TREATMENT OF EACH CRIMINAL. A SUBSTANTIAL LIST OF SELECTED REFERENCES IS INCLUDED FOR FURTHER READING. (SNI ABSTRACT)