NCJ Number
64437
Journal
RASSEGNA DI CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 6 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1975) Pages: 47-81
Date Published
1975
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM AND CRIMINALITY AND THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF BOTH IN CONTEMPORARY ITALY ARE EXPLORED FROM A SOCIOCULTURAL VIEWPOINT.
Abstract
ITALIAN CRIMINOLOGISTS POINT TO THE INCREASE IN THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, AS CLOSELY RELATED NOT ONLY TO DRUG ABUSE BUT ALSO TO THE RISING CONSUMPTION OF HARD LIQUOR WHICH, DUE TO A MULTIPLICITY OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS (SUCH AS IMPROVED ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, RADIO AND TELEVISION ADVERTISING, AND A DESIRE TO ESCAPE FROM PERSONAL, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS) HAS REPLACED WINE AS THE FAVORITE NATIONAL BEVERAGE. THE INDIRECT CRIMINOGENIC EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL PROMOTE VIOLENT CRIME AGAINST PERSONS IN TWO WAYS, BY FREEING POTENTIALLY PSYCHOPATHIC INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL INHIBITIONS AND TRIGGERING AGGRESSION TOWARD THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AND BY MAKING WEAKER INDIVIDUALS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VICTIMIZATION, AS THE ALCOHOL DULLS THEIR SELF-PRESERVATION INSTINCTS, CLOUDS THEIR JUDGMENT, AND CAUSES THEM TO ACTUALLY COURT DANGER. THIS VICTIM CRIME-PRECIPITATING SYNDROME HAS NOT RECEIVED SUFFICENT ATTENTION, BUT IT IS A REAL PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN DRINKERS, WHO OFTEN INADVERTENTLY INVITE THE SEXUAL ADVANCES OF SADISTIC RAPISTS. WHILE A SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF EUROPEAN LITERATURE EXISTS ON THE RELATION BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND CRIMINALITY, ITALIAN LITERATURE ON T E SUBJECT IS SCARCE AND MATCHES THE APATHY OF LOCAL POLICE AND JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES IN RECOGNIZING THE ROLE ALCOHOL PLAYS. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY ARE ALSO COMMITTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, BUT THE OFFENDERS INVOLVED ARE OFTEN UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEIR MINDS ARE CLOUDED AND THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF THE CAREFUL PLANNING AND EXECUTION REQUIRED BY THIS TYPE OF CRIME. ALCOHOLISM IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY OF CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLIC PARENTS, BECAUSE OF HEREDITARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. THE GENERAL PERMISSIVENESS OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY TOWARDS VICES IS TO BE BLAMED FOR THE ALCOHOL ABUSE PROBLEM. REMEDIAL STEPS TO CONTROL THE SPREADING OF ALCOHOLISM WOULD INCLUDE AN INTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN THE SCHOOLS, THE ADDITION OF ALCOHOLISM-TREATMENT CENTERS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE IMPOSITION OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM ALCOHOL AS A MANDATORY PROBATION AND PAROLE CONDITION, AND THE BANNING OF HARD LIQUOR COMMERCIALS FROM RADIO AND TELEVISION. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS APPENDED. --IN ITALIAN. (LGR)