ECONOMICS OF CRIME AND PUNISHMENT - A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH

• NCJ Number: 11266
• Author(s): S ROTTENBERG
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 237 pages
• Corporate Author: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
• Sale Source: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CONFERENCE HELD JULY 1972, WASHINGTON, DC

Annotation

PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS FROM A CONFERENCE ON THE USES OF ECONOMICS IN THE TREATMENT OF CRIME AND IN CRIME PREVENTION SYSTEMS.

Abstract

THE FIRST TWO PARTS OF THE BOOK - ON THE MOTIVES OF CRIMINALS, AND ON DETERRENCE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR - ARE DEVOTED TO A DISCUSSION OF THE RATIONALITY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHORS OF THESE PAPERS CONTEND THAT CRIMINALS ARE GOVERNED BY THE SAME PRINCIPALS THAT APPLY TO PEOPLE MAKING LEGAL OCCUPATIONAL CHOICES. IN OTHER WORDS, CRIMINALS DO NOT CHOOSE BY RANDOM METHODS NOR SEEK TO DIMINISH THEIR WELL-BEING BUT, RATHER, THEY SEEK TO ENHANCE THEIR WELFARE. THE THIRD PART OF THE TEXT DISCUSSES THE BEHAVIOR OF ORGANIZED CRIME, BY WHICH IS ROUGHLY MEANT THE BEHAVIOR OF 'FIRMS' ORGANIZED TO ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE. THE PAPERS IN THIS SECTION ALSO EMBODY THE RATIONAL-BEHAVIORAL ASSUMPTION. THE FINAL PAPERS, PRODUCED BY LEGAL SCHOLARS, DESCRIBE EUROPEAN CONTINENTAL AND ENGLISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS, AND SUGGEST WAYS IN WHICH ARRANGEMENTS IN EUROPE DIFFER FROM THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES. COMMENTS MADE BY ECONOMISTS ON THESE PAPERS EXAMINE THE BEHAVIORAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DIFFERENCES IN PROCEDURES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)