NCJ Number
72612
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
After a general discussion of the benefits and problems of career criminal programs, the article discusses a research study on crime patterns of habitual offenders based on interviews with prison inmates and criminal justice records.
Abstract
The interest in career criminal programs seems motivated by evidence that a small number of chronic recidivists commit a large amount of serious crime and by a feeling that these individuals have circumvented the justice system by plea bargaining and overly lenient sentences. LEAA experimental programs in over 50 jurisdictions have achieved high conviction rates for career criminals through specially trained prosecution staff. It is hoped that high conviction rates will reduce street crime by removing these offenders from the community and by deterring other criminals. These prosecution units depend on police cooperation and may even direct patrol officers to check specific individuals in order to develop information for use in later investigations. Parole departments are also developing programs for close monitoring of habitual offenders on probation or parole. Some professionals feel that correctional institutions should target the career criminal by denying early release for good time or by a special treatment program. Career criminal projects also strain overcrowded prison facilities and produce more trials for overburdened courts. During the past 3 years the Rand Corporation research has questioned over 700 prison inmates and examined criminal justice records in several States. This data has produced few findings that are consistent with the traditional image of the career criminal. Offenders did not specialize, but engaged in a wide variety of crimes. The most sophisticated offenders had developed their techniques at an early age. Interviews with inmates revealed that on the average they admitted to committing about 20 major felonies a year, but were arrested for only 12 percent and convicted in less than half of those. The Rand study showed that criminal careers began around age 14, peaked in the early 20's, and declined until age 30, when most ended. The critical issue becomes how to identify the 21-year-old at the peak of criminality. The issue can be addressed by more effective use of crime clearance information in police investigations, research into characteristics of career criminals, and releasing juvenile records to adult criminal courts. Waiver of hard core juveniles to the adult court is an inadequate solution, and a special sentencing system should be considered. Both the deterrent and incapacitation aspects of prison sentences are greatly reduced if they are applied only after offenders have committed most of their criminal activities.