CHANGING CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS IMPLICATIONS FOR CRIMINOLOGY THEORY

• NCJ Number: 42110
• Journal: CRIMINOLOGY, 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 49-66
• Author(s): G R STAATS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROFESSIONAL AND THE NON-PROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL? THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES NEW CONCEPTS OF THAT QUESTION.

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES BOTH TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS AS VIEWED BY CRIMINOLOGISTS. TRADITIONALLY, CRIMINOLOGISTS HAVE VIEWED PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS AS BEING INVOLVED IN FULL-TIME, NONVIOLENT, HIGHLY SKILLED SPECIALTIES. CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTUALIZATIONS STRESS PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS AS BEING NONSPECIALIZED, LESS SKILLED, AND INVOLVED IN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THESE CONCEPTUAL CHANGES REFLECT AN EMPHASIS UPON OBSERVATIONS RATHER THAN THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENTS AMONG CRIMINOLOGISTS EXAMINING PROFESSIONAL CRIME. AS LONG AS AN OBSERVATIONAL EMPHASIS PERSISTS, THEORIES CONCERNING PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS WILL NOT PROGRESS EITHER RAPIDLY OR IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. CHANGING CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS CAN BE VIEWED AS AN EXAMPLE OF INSUFFICIENT THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT EXISTING WITHIN THE DISCIPLINE.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....BDS