NCJ Number
54290
Editor(s)
C J FREDERICK
Date Published
1978
Length
199 pages
Annotation
THIS COLLECTION OF 11 ARTICLES DISCUSSES BOTH CRIMINALLY DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR. THE LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE ASPECTS OF THESE PROBLEMS AND THEIR TREATMENT AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM POINTS OUT THAT ALTHOUGH BOTH VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS OF DANGEROUS, VIOLENT ACTS CUT ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL LINES, SOME PERSONS ARE AT MUCH GREATER RISK THAN OTHERS. AMONG ALL PERSONS ARRESTED FOR MAJOR VIOLENT CRIMES RELEASED IN 1972, THE FOLLOWING PERCENTAGES REPRESENT REARRESTS ON PARTICULAR CRIMINAL CHARGES 4 YEARS LATER: HOMICIDE, 64 PERCENT; ROBBERY, 77 PERCENT; RAPE, 73 PERCENT; AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, 70 PERCENT (ACCORDING TO A STUDY OF REPEATED OFFENDERS CONDUCTED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION). THESE PERPETRATORS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY YOUNG, BLACK, AND MALE. FOLLOWING THIS OVERVIEW, THE CULTURAL ATTITUDES WHICH PRODUCE DANGEROUSNESS ARE CONSIDERED. OTHER PAPERS COVER THE INSANITY DEFENSE, THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF RECENT COURT DECISIONS REGARDING INVOLUNTARY CIVIL COMMITMENTS, THE PREDICTION OF DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR, AND THE TREATMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY PROBLEMS POSED BY THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER. A NUMBER OF PAPERS ALSO DISCUSS THE PERSON WHO IS DANGEROUS TO SELF BUT NOT OTHERS. TWO EVALUATIONS OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED, ONE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND ONE IN CALIFORNIA. THE FINAL PAPER MAKES POLICY SUGGESTIONS FOR BOTH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. MOST OF THE ARTICLES CONTAIN FOOTNOTES, AND EACH HAS A BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDED. (SEE ALSO NCJ-54291-54294.) (GLR)