NCJ Number
172088
Journal
International Criminal Justice Review Volume: 7 Dated: (1997) Pages: 31-45
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article investigates the applicability of the concept of chronic offenders in China.
Abstract
This study used survey data from a sample of inmates in the city of Tianjin. Three general questions were addressed: (1) In light of the historically low crime rates in the country, is there an identifiable chronic offending group in Chinese society? (2) If there is such a group of chronic offenders, is this group characteristically violent? and (3) Does this group exhibit similar or different patterns of recidivism in comparison with other offenders? When attention focused on violations that elicit severe sanctioning (court action), there was no evidence of a chronic offending group. However, when the study included administrative sanctions by the police, a chronic offending group could be discerned. The Chinese chronic offender group was relatively small in size, but, as in the United States, these offenders were more likely than others to be involved in violent offending. They were also more likely to progress from nonviolent to violent offending after initial contact with the criminal justice system. Tables, references