NCJ Number
10630
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1973) Pages: 163186
Date Published
1973
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A RADICAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CRIME SUGGESTS THAT THE PRESENT CHARACTER OF CRIME IN AMERICA FLOWS FROM THE STRUCTURE OF U.S. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS.
Abstract
MANY KINDS OF CRIME REPRESENT PERFECTLY RATIONAL RESPONSES TO THE CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION AND INEQUALITY FOSTERED IN CAPITALISM. EXAMPLES OF THIS RATIONALITY ARE WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, ORGANIZED CRIME, AND GHETTO CRIME. MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES AMONG CRIMES FLOW FROM THE DUALITY OF AMERICAN SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT DUALITY IN TURN REFLECTS THE BIASES OF THE STATE IN CAPITALIST SOCIETIES. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF CRIME IN AMERICA IS CONTINGENT UPON FIRST EFFECTING A RADICAL REDISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN OUR BASIC INSTITUTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)