NCJ Number
58808
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE REASSESSMENT OF THE CONCEPTS OF REHABILITATION, PROBATION, AND SENTENCING IS REPORTED TO BE A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE OF CRIME CONTROL MEASURES OF THE 1960'S.
Abstract
THE DECLINE IN THE RATE OF REPORTED CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES DURING 1975 TO 1976 PROMPTED A DEGREE OF PERPLEXITY AMONG CITIZENS ACCUSTOMED TO RISING CRIME RATES. OFFICIALLY, THE STATISTICS WERE HAILED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS REPRESENTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THOUGHTFUL APPROACHES TO THE CRIME PROBLEM AND TO PUBLIC ATTITUDES CONCERNING THE DETERRENCE OF CRIME. POLICE OFFICIALS AGREE THAT THE OVERALL DROP IN CRIME CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY ANY ONE CAUSE. RATHER, A NUMBER OF REASONS, INTERACTING TOGETHER, MAY BE RESPONSIBLE. BOTH CITIZEN AWARENESS OF CRIME AND AN OFFICIAL EMPHASIS ON SPEEDY PROSECUTIONS AFFECT CRIME RATES. THE DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME MAY ALSO BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONCURRENT REDUCTION OF THE YOUTH POPULATION. ONE SUCCESSFUL CRIME-PREVENTIVE MEASURE IS AIMED AT VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF REPEAT OFFENDERS. THE REASSESSMENT OF PROGRAMS WHICH WERE NOT COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL INCLUDES THE SCRUTINIZING OF STATISTICAL METHODS OF REPORTING CRIME RATES. MANY OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED DOUBTS CONCERNING THE CAPABILITY OF STATISTICS TO ACCURATELY REFLECT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. SURVEYS OF CRIME VICTIMS INDICATE THAT ONLY 65 PERCENT OF THE ROBBERY VICTIMS ACTUALLY REPORTED THE CRIME, AND ONLY 30 PERCENT OF THE BURGLARIES ARE EVER REPORTED. ADDITIONAL CRITICISM HAS BEEN FOCUSED UPON THE BAIL AND PROBATION PROCEDURES DEVELOPED DURING THE 1960'S. PAST EFFORTS AT CRIME CONTROL ARE OUTLINED. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE DECLINE IN CRIME RATES MAY CONTINUE IF THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE, AND IF THE 'DECRIMINALIZATION' OF MINOR OFFENSES PERMITS PROSECUTORS TO CONCENTRATE THEIR RESOURCES ON SERIOUS CRIMES. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (TWK)