NCJ Number
205395
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 203-211
Date Published
May 2004
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article considers the role of anti-social behavior in the field of criminology and examines the expanding authorities for policing anti-social behavior.
Abstract
Increasingly the topic of anti-social behavior and its control comes up within criminology circles. Controlling anti-social behavior has been a top priority of government, which recently expanded the powers of police to disperse groups, close premises used for drug dealing, and to respond to air weapons and imitation firearms. Penalties have been introduced for behaviors including parental irresponsibility and noise nuisance. Such governance over anti-social behaviors suggests a new form of social control is becoming prominent within society. The current analysis considers the merging of social housing management and policing. Drawing on Cohen’s classical analysis of social control, the author illustrates the ways in which the social control of anti-social behavior is accomplished through a blurring of the boundaries between public and private; through behaviorism’s creation of anti-social behavior; and through mesh-thinning and net-widening to bring more people and actions under the umbrella of social control. Next, the analysis turns to a consideration of why civil law powers were expanded to control anti-social behaviors rather than expanding police powers. The changing powers and focus of the “care and control” professionals is examined as the author argues that anti-social behavior is a social construction indicating the establishment of a new domain of professional power and knowledge. Anti-social behavior is a social construct of the State used to assert its right to use force in the absence of police power. Future inquiries concerning anti-social behavior should also draw from the “housing studies” literature and methodologies. Notes, references