NCJ Number
43169
Date Published
1975
Length
181 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE OF CRIME IN BRITAIN, ITS POSSIBLE CAUSES, AND PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH OFFENDERS ARE EXAMINED FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT. FAILINGS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
SOCIAL CLASS, ETHNIC GROUP, AND SUBCULTURE ARE SEEN AS FACTORS IN THE ANALYSIS OF CRIME. THE AUTHOR PRESENTS SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION; THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CRIME, FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND SCHOOLS ARE ANALYZED. AN HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND OF THE BRITISH PENAL SYSTEM TRACES THE CONCEPTS OF RETRIBUTION, REHABILITATION, AND DETERRENCE. PRACTICAL EXAMINATION OF TREATMENT METHODS FOR JUVENILE AND ADULT OFFENDERS SHOWS THAT ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON CONFINEMENT, SUCH AS COURT SUPERVISION, DETENTION CENTERS, COMMUNITY HOMES, AND 'BORSTALS' (TRAINING AND REEDUCATION INSTITUTIONS), ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, WHILE METHODS OF DEALING WITH ADULTS ARE STRICTER AND MORE OPENLY PUNITIVE. THE ONLY COMMON PRACTICE WHICH SPANS ALL AGE RANGES IS PROBATION. THE LACK OF CLASSIFICATION FOR ADULT OFFENDERS, THE INFLEXIBILITY OF THE PENAL SYSTEM, AND THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT TREATMENT PRACTICES ARE CRITICIZED. THE AUTHOR ENCOURAGES REFORM OF THE PRISON SYSTEM, PLACING PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AFTER-CARE FOR RELEASED OFFENDERS. NEW TRENDS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUGGESTED FOR POSSIBLE APPLICATION IN BRITAIN INCLUDE POLICE LIAISON OFFICERS, PREDICTION, GROUP WORK IN PRISONS, HALFWAY HOUSES, PAROLE, SUSPENDED SENTENCES, AND DAY TRAINING CENTERS. GRAPHS AND TABLES PRESENT CRIMINAL STATISTICS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.