NCJ Number
68419
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 71 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1980) Pages: 83-123
Date Published
1980
Length
41 pages
Annotation
PAPERS FROM A SYMPOSIUM ON CAREER CRIMINALS HELD IN ALEXANDRIA, VA., IN SEPTEMBER 1979 INCLUDE FOUR GENERAL THEORETICAL DISCUSSIONS OF PROGRAM OBSTACLES AND FOUR EVALUATIONS OF ASPECTS OF EXISTING PROGRAMS.
Abstract
POTENTIAL OBJECTIVES OF PROSECUTION IN CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAMS ARE ADDRESSED, AS ARE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PROGRAMS, THE LATTER PAPER LOOKING AT FOUR STUDIES THAT HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR SELECTION CRITERIA BECAUSE TOGETHER THEY PRESENT A RELATIVELY CONSISTENT PICTURE OF CAREER CRIMINALS. NEXT, THE SPECIAL PROBLEM OF JUVENILES WHO REPEATEDLY OFFEND IS CONSIDERED SINCE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAMS USUALLY TARGET OLDER OFFENDERS FROM THE MID-20'S ON UP, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT OFFENDERS ARE MOST ACTIVE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 22 COMPLICATIONS WITH PREDICTING FUTURE CRIMINALITY ARE DELINEATED, SUCH AS QUESTIONABLE DATA SOURCES (E.G., POLICE REPORTS), THE NEED FOR INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE AN INTRUSION ON THE OFFENDERS' PERSONAL PRIVACY, AND THE PREDICTIVE BUT ETHICALLY UNDESIRABLE ITEMS THAT CLUTTER ANALYSIS. FOLLOWING THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE THE PAPERS FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH. EVALUATION PAPERS DESCRIBE THE FINDINGS OF THE MITRE CORPORATION'S NATIONAL EVALUATION OF THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM AND THE SUCCESSFUL 16-MONTH PERFORMANCE OF THE CALIFORNIA CAREER APPREHENSION PROGRAM. A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF PROSECUTORS IS REPORTED WHICH MEASURED SUCCESS OF CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAMS BY PROBING ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PROGRAM, PERCEPTIONS OF THE INGREDIENTS OF PROGRAM SUCCESS, AND CHANGES RESULTING FROM PROGRAMS. FINALLY, A RESEARCH REPORT DRAWING ON DATA FROM LOS ANGELES' ADULT FELONY CASES IS PRESENTED. THE STUDY CONCENTRATES ON THE PREMISE THAT CAREER CRIMINAL UNITS INCREASE ATTORNEY TIME DEVOTED TO THE HANDLING OF HABITUAL OFFENDERS. REFERENCES AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED. (MFE)