NCJ Number
61387
Editor(s)
T R SARBIN
Date Published
1979
Length
176 pages
Annotation
SEVERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED THAT CONCERN THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THEORIES OF HUMAN EVIL.
Abstract
ONE OF THESE ASSUMPTIONS IS THAT OF THE MYTHICAL CRIMINAL TYPE. THEORISTS USUALLY HOLD A SET OF UNACKNOWLEDGED BELIEFS THAT CRIMINALITY IS A DIMENSION OF NATURE AND THAT PEOPLE CAN READILY BE CLASSIFIED AS CRIMINAL OR NONCRIMINAL. THIS IS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY THAT PERPETUATES REPRESSION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ANOTHER ASSUMPTION IS THAT OF THE INMATE BENEVOLENCE BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE PROCLAIMED CHILD-SAVING MOVEMENT WHOSE REFORMERS WERE DISINTERESTED PARTIES REPRESENTING AN ENLIGHTENED MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASS. THE IDEA THAT EMPLOYMENT CAN REHABILITATE UNEMPLOYED DELINQUENTS FROM LOW SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS FAMILIES IS ANOTHER BASIC ASSUMPTION. THESE IDEAS ARE ASSESSED USING STUDIES AND LITERATURE REVIEWS, AS ARE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND VALUE OF PRETRIAL DIVERSION AND BAIL BOND REFORMING. FINAL ESSAYS TOUCH UPON THE ISSUES OF CORPORATE VIOLENCE, STRATEGIES FOR RESEARCH ON CORPORATE CRIME, THE HUMAN PROPENSITY FOR EVIL AND THE CAPACITY FOR COMMITTING EVIL ACTS WITHOUT QUESTION WHILE UNDER AN AUTHORITATIVE COMMAND. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)