NCJ Number
63392
Editor(s)
E OATMAN
Date Published
1979
Length
216 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH CRIME'S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT ON AMERICANS AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS, AND THE RESULTING COPING MECHANISMS, ARE EXPLORED, THIS COLLECTION MAINLY PROBES THE KINSHIP BETWEEN AMERICAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND CRIME.
Abstract
THE ISSUE OF THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ROOTS OF CRIME IS A CENTRAL ONE BECAUSE CRIME REDUCTION CAN DEPEND ON THE ISOLATION AND ELIMINATION OF THESE ELEMENTS. TO THIS END, THESE ARTICLES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED INTO SIX SECTIONS, BEGINNING WITH A LOOK AT CRIME IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S. ATTITUDES, VALUES, AND SOCIETAL CHANGES IN JAPAN, ENGLAND, AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES ARE INVESTIGATED, AS ARE THE WAYS CRIME IS DEPICTED IN THE MEDIA, THE INFLUENCE OF RELAXED SEX ROLES ON FEMALE CRIME, AND THE APPARENT PUBLIC FASCINATION WITH WELL-PLANNED CRIMES COMMITTED BY INTELLIGENT CRIMINALS. PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AND THEIR CHANGES OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS ARE TRACED, REVEALING THAT DEFINITIONS OF CRIME ARE ELASTIC AND THAT KEEPING TRACK OF CRIME SUCH AS IS DONE WITH UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS, IS AS MUCH AN ART AS A SCIENCE. A SEPARATE SECTION ALSO EXAMINES WHITE-COLLAR AND ORGANIZED CRIME--FORMS THAT ARE DEEPLY INGRAINED IN OUR SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND COMPLICATED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTERS. ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, COMPUTER CRIME, ETHNIC SUCCESSION IN ORGANIZED CRIME, AND SOCIAL BANDITRY AND THE BLACK MAFIA ARE GIVEN SPECIAL ATTENTION. A NUMBER OF ARTICLES IN TWO SECTIONS FOLLOW THE SEARCH FOR CAUSES OF CRIME OVER THE PAST CENTURY, A PERIOD DURING WHICH CRIMINOLOGY MATURED AS A DISCIPLINE, DRAWING FROM THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY, AND SOCIOLOGY. THE VARIABLES OF RACE, POVERTY, AND YOUTH ARE SPECIFICALLY EXAMINED AND A CONCLUDING CHAPTER TAKES A LOOK AT SOCIETY'S RESPONSE--THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. CENTRAL ISSUES HERE ARE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE IN EVIDENCE GATHERING AND ADHERING TO LEGAL PROCEDURES SO THAT CRIMINAL CHARGES STICK; EFFICIENCY IN COURTS' HANDLING OF CASELOADS; AND SENTENCING, FIXED VERSUS INDIVIDUAL. ARTICLES ARE SELECTED FROM A VARIETY OF POPULAR AND SCHOLARLY JOURNALS. REFERENCES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. SECTIONS BEGIN WITH EDITOR'S NOTES. (DAG)