CRIMES WITHOUT VICTIMS - DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC POLICY, ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY, DRUG ADDICTION

• NCJ Number: 9439
• Author(s): E M SCHUR
• Date Published: 1965
• Length: 180 pages
• Sale Source: Prentice Hall
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN RELATION TO HUMAN NEEDS, AND SOCIAL VALUES AND INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

'FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF DEVIANCE AND CRIME ARE RAISED. EACH PROBLEM INVOLVES THE WILLING EXCHANGE BETWEEN CONSENTING INDIVIDUALS OF A DESIRED PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROSCRIBED BY LAW. SUCH LAWS, BECAUSE THERE IS NO COMPLAINING VICTIM, ARE ENFORCEABLE. THEIR VERY EXISTENCE GIVES RISE TO SECONDARY PATHOLOGY, ABORTION RACKETS, BLACKMAIL, POLICE CORRUPTION, DOPE PUSHING.' THE BOOK ANALYZES THE IMPACT OF LAWS ON DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, AND LOOKS AT SOCIETAL REACTION AS A BEHAVIOR SHAPING INFLUENCE. THE AUTHOR PROPOSES POLICY CHANGES, AND CONCLUDES THAT ONLY THROUGH AN INFORMED PUBLIC AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOTIVATIONS AND PATTERNS OF DEVIANCE CAN EXISTING LAWS BE REVISED TO HELP RATHER THAN REJECT THE DEVIANT. AUTHOR MODIFIED