NCJ Number
91316
Date Published
1983
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Almost no research in sociological criminology existed in Brazil 10 years ago, but in the early 1970's criminology experienced a resurgence which produced a trend toward freeing the way for introducing criminological courses and research in Brazilian law schools instead of developing the penal science in its own terms.
Abstract
At the end of the 19th century, criminology had great prestige in Brazil. However, criminology ultimately was excluded from the curricula of Brazil's law schools, after juridical concepts were mixed indiscriminately with those of anthropology, psychiatry, and sociology in ways that prevented careful analysis of fundamental issues. The statement of the premises underlying the 1940 Brazilian penal code and criticisms by Nelson Hungria both contributed to the elimination of criminology from the law school curriculum. Systematic criminological studies came to a halt for 40 years, although the subject appeared in medical schools, laboratories, mental institutions, and penitentiaries. Brazilian criminologists have lagged increasingly behind the new international developments in the social sciences. However, the growth of criminality, new types of offenses, changing attitudes of penal law experts, the crisis in the administration of justice, and the overcrowded prisons have all contributed to the resurgence of interest in criminology. The results have included a symposium in Rio de Janeiro, criminology courses in law schools, the creation of institutes of criminology, and the formation of an international group called the Interdisciplinary Group on Criminology. Notes and 59 references are provided.