NCJ Number
64533
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
SIX PRINCIPAL BARRIERS TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF CRIME AND CRIMINAL LAW ARE IDENTIFIED; RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING FUTURE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL LAW ARE DELINEATED.
Abstract
FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF PAST EFFORTS OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN THE AREAS OF INDETERMINATE SENTENCING, JUVENILE ADJUDICATION, AND DEALING WITH VICTIMLESS CRIMES BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE PAPER IDENTIFIES SIX BARRIERS TO FURTHERING KNOWLEDGE OF CRIME AND CRIMINAL LAW. THESE BARRIERS ARE (1) INNOCENCE OF THE PERSPECTIVES OR CONVICTIONS THAT INFLUENCE RESEARCHERS; (2) LACK OF THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF BASIC CONCEPTS; (3) MISPLACED RELIANCE ON AUTHORITY; (4) UNWARRANTED CONFIDENCE IN THE SOCIAL DISCIPLINES AND IN THE COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL TRAINED IN THOSE DISCIPLINES; (5) LACK OF COMPARATIVE STUDIES, ESPECIALLY OF THE CRIMINAL LAW OF OTHER COUNTRIES; AND (6) FAILURE TO STUDY THE RELEVANT HISTORY AND THE CONSEQUENTLY ONE-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTER OF CURRENT RESEARCH. TO IMPROVE THIS SITUATION, SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED. FIRST, ANY RESEARCHER DOING WORK ON CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STATE IN ADVANCE IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT JUST WHAT HIS/HER CONVICTION OR PERSPECTIVE IS. AFTER CONCLUSION OF THE RESEARCH, THE RESEARCHER SHOULD STATE IF HIS/HER PERSPECTIVE HAS CHANGED IN ANY WAY. ALSO, DETAILED RECORDS OF ALL RESEARCH SHOULD BE LEFT FOR THE USE OF FUTURE RESEARCHERS. BASICALLY, THE RECOMMENDATIONS INVOLVE ESTABLISHMENT OF CAREFUL ANALYSIS, STUDY, AND CRITICAL DIALOGUE WITHIN THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY, AND A BROADENING OF RESEARCHERS' PERSPECTIVES TO ENCOMPASS THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER COUNTRIES. REFERENCE NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)