NCJ Number
14353
Date Published
1974
Length
222 pages
Annotation
FOCUSES ON THE WAY IN WHICH SOCIETY DEFINES LAWBREAKERS AND PRESCRIBES THE ROLES THE PERSON SO DEFINED MUST ENACT EMPHASIZING THE PROCESS OF CRIMINALIZATION, FROM THE INITIAL ACT TO ARREST, TRIAL, PRISON, AND RELEASE.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION BEGINS WITH DEFINING CRIME AND COVERS AREAS SUCH AS CRIME AS BEHAVIOR, CRIME AS A LABEL, AND THE CRIMINALIZATION PROCESS. HIGHLIGHTS ARE THEN GIVEN OF THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL LAW, THE ORIGINS OF AMERICAN CRIMINAL LAW, AND THE FORMATION OF CRIMINAL LAWS SUCH AS VAGRANCY STATUTES, THE MARIJUANA TAX ACT, AND SEXUAL PSYCHOPATH LAWS. COMMENTS ARE THEN MADE ON LAW AND THE PUBLIC. ATTENTION IS THEN DEVOTED TO GENERAL THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION AND THEORIES EXPLAINING SPECIFIC FORMS OF CRIME SUCH AS CHECK FORGERY, EMBEZZLEMENT, GANG DELINQUENCY, AND PROFESSIONAL THEFT. CONSIDERATION IS ALSO GIVEN TO CRIMINAL TYPOLOGIES. IN A DISCUSSION ENTITLED 'BEING BUSTED'. DETAILS ARE PRESENTED OF POLICE WORK AND ORGANIZATION, POLICE DISCRETION, THE POLICEMAN'S WORKING PERSONALITY, AND POLICE-CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS. THE PROCESS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPLAINS THE AMERICAN COURT STRUCTURE AND PROCEDURES, THE NOTION OF JUSTICE, JUDICIAL PROCESSING, PROSECUTION AND THE PROSECUTOR, DEFENDING THE POOR IN CRIMINAL CASES, THE GUILTY PLEA, TRIAL BY JURY, SENTENCING IN CRIMINAL CASES, AND THE JUVENILE COURT. CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, THE HISTORY OF PUNISHMENT, AND THE FAILURE OF TREATMENT ARE AMONG THE ISSUES DISCUSSED UNDER CRIMINAL CORRECTIONS - THE NATURE AND IMPACT OF SOCIETAL REACTION. OTHER TOPICS COVERED ARE UNDERSTANDING CRIME RATES AND THE STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY.