AGE AND CRIMINALITY - ON THE PROBLEM OF BREAKING OFF CRIMINAL CAREERS

• NCJ Number: 15150
• Journal: Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 209-216
• Author(s): H SCHAEFER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Arbeitskreis Junger Kriminologen
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

CRITICISM OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES WHICH DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE FINDINGS THAT THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF HABITUAL OFFENDERS TENDS TO DECREASE AS THEY GROW OLDER.

Abstract

THE THEORIES CRITICIZED ARE THOSE WHICH EXPLAIN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINAL CAREERS IN TERMS OF SOCIAL LABELING. ACCORDING TO THESE THEORIES, SANCTIONS AGAINST AND STIGMATIZATION OF OFFENDERS TENDS TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE THEIR CRIMINAL ROLES SINCE THEY TEND TO INTERNALIZE THE LABELS SOCIETY PLACES ON THEM. THE NEGATIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN AGE AND RECIDIVISM SUGGESTS, HOWEVER, THAT THERE ARE OTHER CAUSES FOR THE INCREASE AND LATER DECREASE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BESIDES SOCIAL LABELING AND STIGMATIZATION. THE ARTICLE OUTLINES THREE HYPOTHESES WHICH INCORPORATE OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) --IN GERMAN