NCJ Number
50793
Journal
Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 209-224
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
CONSERVATIVE PERCEPTIONS IN POLICE WORK, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS, MOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO REPRESS CRIME, ARE PERCEIVED AS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH CONSERVATIVE POLICE AGENCIES GENERALLY HAVE A TENDENCY TO CONCENTRATE ON MAKING CONSPICUOUS ARRESTS, THEY ARE USUALLY INDIFFERENT TO RATES OF CONVICTIONS. THE TREND IS TO FOCUS ON ADVOCACY AND ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS THAT COMPLETELY PROHIBIT WIDESPREAD ACTIVITIES WHICH ALL PARTICIPANTS DESIRE AND WHICH CAN BE EASILY HIDDEN, SUCH AS PROSTITUTION OR THE USE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. HOWEVER, THE SUPPRESSION OF THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TENDS TO ALIENATE MUCH OF THE OTHERWISE LAW-ABIDING PUBLIC AND SUCH REGULATIONS, COULD EASILY BECOME CORRUPT AND UNFAIR. GOALS OF CONSERVATIVE COURTS ARE HIGH CONVICTION RATES AND MANDATORY SENTENCES, BUT THE EFFECTS ARE ARBITRARY CONVICTIONS, HAPHAZARD SENTENCING, AND EROSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS. UNLESS IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT OFFENDERS ARE DIVERSE, AND THAT THEY DO CHANGE THEIR CONDUCT WITH INTENSE ALTERATIONS IN THEIR EXPERIENCES, CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS WILL TEND TO ENCOURAGE MORE RECIDIVISM THAN REHABILITATION. TO APPROACH MAXIMUM CRIME PREVENTION. ATTEMPTS SHOULD BE MADE TO EXPERIMENT WITH ALTERNATIVE POLICIES OF CORRECTIONS AND TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE VALIDTY OF ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS FOR THEIR OUTCOMES. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)