NCJ Number
60168
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
PUBLIC ATTITUDES THAT DEMAND STRICTER PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENDERS ARE CRITICIZED FROM AN HISTORICAL POINT OF VIEW.
Abstract
THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO A MORE HUMANE PREVENTIVE APPROACH TOWARDS CRIME IS THE CURRENT PUBLIC FEELING OF INSECURITY AND ALARM. THE RECENT RISE IN THE CRIME RATE HAS MADE THE CANADIAN POPULATION CALL FOR STRICTER LEGISLATION AND EVEN THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE DEATH PENALTY. HOWEVER, IF THE STATISTICS ARE SEEN IN THEIR PROPER PERSPECTIVE--ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE INCREASED EFFICENCY OF CRIME DETECTION--THE CRIME RATE HAS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN THE COURSE OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND CANADIAN CITIES ARE NO LESS SAFE THAN THEY WERE IN THE 19TH CENTURY. THE ALARM OF CITIZENS STEMS PARTLY FROM THE GREAT PUBLICITY CRIMINAL OFFENSES RECEIVE, PARTLY FROM THE POPULATION'S OWN FEELING OF INSECURITY CONCERNING THEIR (ECONOMIC) FUTURE. THOSE IN FAVOR OF A MORE TOLERANT APPROACH MUST CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT THE HISTORY OF CRIME SHOWS THE FAILURE OF STRICT CRIME LEGISLATION TO ACHIEVE ITS ENDS. FIRST, NUMEROUS POLICE ANNALS INDICATE THAT INCREASED POLICE PATROLS NEVER HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CRIME. SECOND, THE PRISONIZATION OF OFFENDERS, WHICH AT THE END OF THE 18TH CENTURY REPLACED CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND OTHER COMMUNITY SANCTIONS, FAILED TO BRING ABOUT THE DESIRED CHANGES IN CONVICTS. THIRD, THE MOST ASTONISHING 20TH-CENTURY PHENOMENON IS NOT THE INCREASE IN CRIME AND VIOLENCE, BUT THE INCREASE IN CRIME REPRESSION AND OFFICIAL CONTROL. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND A CHART OF CANADIAN CRIME STATISTICS FROM 1891 TO 1959. --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)