NCJ Number
47703
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
VALUE CHANGES UNDERLYING THE RISE IN PERSONAL AND PROPERTY CRIME RATES IN WESTERN SOCIETIES ARE EXPLORED, WITH REFERENCES TO CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES, ENGLAND AND WALES, IRELAND, AUSTRALIA, AND SCANDINAVIA.
Abstract
THE SUCCESSFUL CRIME CONTROL EFFORTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES, AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED STATES, AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES BETWEEN THE 1840'S AND THE 1930'S ARE POINTED OUT, AS IS THE PARADOX THAT THE INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES THAT HELPED TO REDUCE CRIME IN THE EARLY DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THOSE THAT HAVE FAILED TO STEM THE MORE RECENT RESURGENCE OF DISORDER. STATISTICS DOCUMENTING THE COMMON WESTERN EXPERIENCE OF RISING CRIME BETWEEN 1950 AND 1974 ARE PRESENTED, AND THEORIES CONCERNING POSSIBLE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON CRIME RATES ARE NOTED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CONCEPTS OF RELATIVE DEPRIVATION AND OPPORTUNITY, THOUGH PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATIONS OF RISING PROPERTY CRIME RATES, DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE RISE IN CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS AND CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY SOMEONE WHO IS DEPRIVED CHOOSES THE RISKS OF CRIME OVER LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT. THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS CHOICE IS SAID TO LIE LESS IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT THAN IN PEOPLE'S BELIEFS ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD RESPOND TO ITS VARIEGATED OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT RISING CRIME RATES IN WESTERN SOCIETIES REFLECT A WEAKENING OF BASIC JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND A SYNDROME OF SELFISHNESS AND ALIENATION, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUTH. TWO TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)