CRIME AND PUNISHMENT - CHANGING VIEWS (FROM LAW AND CRIME, 1977 - SEE NCJ-52945)

• NCJ Number: 52952
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 0 pages
• Corporate Author: Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation
• Publication Format: Informational Packet
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. THE KIT CONTAINS A FILMSTRIP AND AN AUDIOCASSETTE

Annotation

AS DEFINITIONS OF CRIMES HAVE CHANGED, SO HAVE CONCEPTS OF APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENTS AND OF THE PURPOSE OF PUNISHMENTS. DECRIMINALIZATION OF MANY OFFENSES IS SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THE HISTORY AND VARIATIONS OF PUNISHMENT ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS FILMSTRIP AND AUDIOCASSETTE PROGRAM, AND THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES IS EXAMINED. CRIMES SUCH AS GAMBLING AND DRUNKENNESS MAY REQUIRE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT RATHER THAN INCARCERATION. IF POLICE WERE FREED FROM THE HANDLING OF SUCH CRIMES, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON SERIOUS OFFENSES. DETOXIFICATION CENTERS IN WHICH ALCOHOLICS UNDERGO MEDICALLY SUPERVISED THERAPY AND COUNSELING COULD HELP TOWARDS THIS GOAL. PATIENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE THEIR MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN THESE CENTERS, AND THEY ARE OFFERED PROFESSIONAL HELP AND FOLLOWUP CARE AND FREQUENTLY ATTAIN REHABILITATION. IN CONTRAST, WHEN ALCOHOLICS ARE TREATED AS CRIMINALS, THEY USUALLY CONTINUE TO ABUSE ALCOHOL. EVEN THOUGH MANY PATIENTS WILL REFUSE TREATMENT, THE DECRIMINALIZING OF DRUNKENNESS STILL SETS A MORE EQUITABLE VALUE STRUCTURE FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF CITIZENS IN NEED AND FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CRIMINAL LAW. OPPONENTS OF DECRIMINALIZATION USUALLY VIEW THE PROGRAMS AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE MORAL DECAY OF SOCIETY. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)