DISCUSSION OF PAPERS (FROM CRIME PREVENTION WORKSHOP REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS, 1975, BY DIANNE MACFARLANE SEE NCJ-47726)

• NCJ Number: 47729
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Toronto
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE MINUTES OF THE DISCUSSION WHICH FOLLOWED THE PRESENTATION OF TWO PAPERS ON CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS IN CANADA ARE PROVIDED.

Abstract

THE DISCUSSION CENTERED ON ONE PAPER ON THE HISTORY OF FAILURE IN THE AREA OF CRIME PREVENTION AND ON ANOTHER DEALING WITH BOTH HISTORICAL EFFORTS AND RECENT TRENDS IN CRIME PREVENTION. IT IS NOTED THAT THE DISCUSSION THAT FOLLOWED REFLECTED SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE VARIOUS CONSTITUENCIES AT THE WORKSHOP AND IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE BASIC ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBJECT OF CRIME PREVENTION. THE PROBLEM OF THE HANDLING OF REPEAT OFFENDERS SURFACED; IT IS NOTED THAT A PRIMARY BENEFIT TO BE DERIVED FROM THE DIVERSION APPROACH IS THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COULD CONCENTRATE ITS RESOURCES ON THOSE OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENSES, WHO CONSTITUTE THE MOST SERIOUS GROUP OF REPEATERS. A SOCIOLOGIST COMMENTED THAT SOCIETY HAS COME TO ASSUME THAT THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT CRIME AND THAT, IN FACT, THE RECENT GROWTH OF CRIME OR FEAR OF CRIME IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE POSTWAR BABY BOOM. ANOTHER SOCIOLOGIST NOTED THAT THE PRESS AND MEDIA PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT CRIME AND IN POSSIBLY INFLATING THE PUBLIC'S FEAR OF CRIME. ONE PARTICIPANT SUGGESTED THAT WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE FIELD OF PREVENTION THROUGH TREATMENT IS MUCH MORE RESEARCH DONE OVER SHORTER PERIODS OF TIME. ANOTHER NOTED THAT BOTH PAPERS HAD DEFINED CRIME ONLY IN TERMS OF THE LOWER CLASS, IGNORING THE INCREASINGLY LARGE AMOUNT OF CRIME BEING COMMITTED BY THE WHITE-COLLAR SEGMENT OF SOCIETY. ONE PARTICIPANT CONTENDED THAT THE OPTIMUM LEVEL OF CRIME PREVENTION HAS ALREADY BEEN REACHED AND THAT THERE ALREADY EXISTS A LARGE COUNTER-CRIME INDUSTRY WHICH HAS A VESTED INTERESTS IN MAINTAINING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CRIME. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POLICE URGED THAT MORE FORMAL RECOGNITION IS NEEDED OF THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS OF THE POLICE, ARGUING THAT MOST POLICE OFFICERS KNOW WHAT ACTION TO TAKE IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION, BUT DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC IN TAKING THAT ACTION. FOR THE PAPERS UNDER DISCUSSION, SEE NCJ-47727-47728. (KBL)