NCJ Number
28258
Journal
Annales Internationales de Criminologie Volume: 12 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1973) Pages: 61-73
Date Published
1973
Length
13 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF A MURDER CASE IN ENGLAND IN 1941 AS AN EXAMPLE OF A NEW BRANCH OF CRIMINAL SCIENCE, HISTORICAL CRIMINOLOGY, WHICH HAS AS ITS PURPOSE THE PORTRAYAL OF CRIMINALITY IN EARLIER TIMES.
Abstract
THE BASIS OF THIS NEW FIELD IS THE THESIS THAT CRIME IS NOT MERELY AN INDIVIDUAL ACT, BUT ALSO A MIRROR OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS WHICH CHANGE OVER TIME. HISTORICAL CRIMINOLOGY EVALUATES EACH CRIME IN THE CONTEXT OF ITS OWN TIME AND THUS CONTRIBUTES TO THE PICTURE OF CHANGE IN CULTURE, CIVILIZATION, LAW, CUSTOM, RELIGION, THE ECONOMY, AND THE STATE. THE CASE DESCRIBED IN THIS PAPER CONCERNS A MURDER CASE TRIED IN ENGLAND IN A TIME IN WHICH MODERN CRIMINOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE OFFENDER WERE IN THEIR BEGINNING WHILE THE LAW OF MURDER WAS MORE RIGID AND UNFLEXIBLE THAN IT IS TODAY. THE JUDGE, THE JURY, AND THE TRIAL PROCEDURES IN THE CASE ARE CRITICIZED FROM THE MODERN PERSPECTIVE.