NCJ Number
68041
Date Published
1977
Length
56 pages
Annotation
THIS IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE PHENOMENON OF CRIME, ON INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY, FROM A RADICAL CRIMINOLOGIST'S VIEWPOINT.
Abstract
INTENDED FOR AN AUDIENCE OF CRIMINOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY EXPERTS, THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE EXISTING LITERATURE ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BURDENS IMPOSED ON CRIME VICTIMS, AND ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, BY THE PHENOMENON OF CRIME. FROM VARIOUS CRIMINOLOGICAL STUDIES CITED, A MODEL OF THE IMPACT OF CRIME ON INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY IS COMPILED. WITHIN IT, THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES ARE FOUND: COSTS TO PUBLIC FINANCES (CRIME REPRESSION, DELIVERY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS) WITH DEDUCTIONS REPRESENTED BY MONIES COLLECTED IN FINES; EXPENSES INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED STUDIES ON CRIME; AND LOSSES FROM CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST PUBLIC FINANCES DIRECTLY (E.G., TAX EVASION, CUSTOMS FRAUD, CURRENCY TRAFFICKING), WITH DEDUCTIONS REPRESENTED BY MONIES RECOVERED BY INTERNAL REVENUE AND CUSTOMS SERVICES. COSTS OF CRIME TO VICTIMS INCLUDE THE COST OF ATTEMPTS ON HUMAN LIFE, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, AND LOSSES INVOLVED IN TRANSFER-OF-GOODS (I.E., ECONOMIC OR WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES) IMPOSE AN EVEN HEAVIER BURDEN ON SOCIETY BECAUSE OF THE WEAK OR NONEXISTENT REPRESSION WITH WHICH THESE OFFENSES ARE USUALLY MET, PRECLUDING RECOVERY OF THE MONIES INVOLVED. COSTS OF CRIME ALSO INCLUDE THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, A JUDICIAL ESTABLISHMENT, AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THIS STUDY NOTES THAT MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER THE JUDICIAL ESTABLISHMENT AS A MORE OR LESS EPIPHENOMENAL EMANATION OF DETERMINATE SOCIOPOLITICAL STRUCTURES: EVEN THE CONCEPT OF CRIMINALITY ITSELF IS AN OBJECT OF SOCIOPOLITICAL DEBATE. THE CONCEPT OF CRIME IMPACT ON SOCIETY CAN ALSO BE VIEWED IN TERMS OF SOCIETY'S SELF-IMPOSED NEED TO EXERCISE SOCIAL CONTROL. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)