NCJ Number
59012
Journal
CRIME ET/AND JUSTICE Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 183-187
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
CANADIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS IN A PERIOD OF TRANSITION WITH THE MEDICAL MODEL OF INTERVENTION BECOMING LESS POPULAR AND THE JUSTICE MODEL TAKING ITS PLACE, A CHANGE OF FOCUS WHICH MAY LEAD TO REVISION OF CRIMINAL CODES.
Abstract
OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES TWO VIEWS OF THE OFFENDER HAVE DOMINATED THE THINKING OF CRIMINOLOGISTS. THE FIRST SEES CRIMINALITY AS A KIND OF SICKNESS AND INSISTS THE OFFENDER MUST BE 'TREATED'. THIS REHABILITATION MODEL REACHED ITS ZENITH IN THE 1960'S. A NUMBER OF STUDIES SHOW, HOWEVER, THAT TREATMENT DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT RECIDIVISM AND OFTEN THOSE WHO NEVER CAME INTO CONTACT WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE 'TREATMENT' HAVE LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES THAN THOSE WHO ARE 'REHABILITATED'. THESE FAILURES HAVE INCREASED THE POPULARITY OF THE JUSTICE MODEL. CRIME HERE IS SEEN AS A TRANGRESSION AGAINST SOCIETY WHICH MUST BE PUNISHED. OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE MAY BE OFFERED DURING INCARCERATION, BUT PUNISHMENT IS THE GOAL. AT THE SAME TIME THE JUSTICE MODEL WAS SUPPLANTING THE MEDICAL MODEL, A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE WAS TAKING PLACE IN CANADIAN SOCIETY. HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES WERE LOSING THEIR AUTHORITY AND SOCIETY WAS TURNING TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO ENFORCE SOCIAL VALUES. THIS OVERUSE OF THE POLICE AND COURTS FOR MINOR OFFENSES HAS PROVEN BLUNT, SLOW, AND COSTLY. NUMEROUS AUTHORITIES ARE CALLING FOR REVISION OF PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL CRIMINAL CODES TO DECRIMINALIZE MINOR OFFENSES AND VICTIMLESS CRIMES. ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAFFIC CONTROL CORPS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO FREE TRAINED POLICE FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. GREATER USE OF FINES, RESTITUTION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION HAVE ALSO BEEN URGED. QUOTATIONS AND REFERENCES DOCUMENT THESE VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS. (GLR)