HISTORY OF A QUEBECOISE EXPERIENCE WHICH MIGHT HAVE GONE BADLY... (FROM NOTES ON CRIMINOLOGY AND SOCIAL PATHOLOGY, 1978)

• NCJ Number: 55096
• Author(s): D SZABO
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 39 pages
• Corporate Author: Universite Catholique de Louvain
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: French
• Country: Belgium

Annotation

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL, IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE, AND IN PUBLIC OPINION IS EXPLORED TO ASSESS OPTIONS FOR MODERN CRIMINOLOGY.

Abstract

WHILE IN EUROPE CRIMINOLOGY IS TAUGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH PROFESSORIAL CHAIRS FOR LEGAL MEDICINE OR LAW, AMERICAN CRIMINOLOGY IS A SEPARATE COURSE OF STUDY WITHIN SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENTS. EUROPEAN RESEARCH FOCUSES ON THE ABNORMAL PERSONALITY, ASSIGNMENT OF GUILT, AND THE ETIOLOGY OF RECIDIVISM, AND IN CONTRAST, AMERICAN STUDIES INVESTIGATE THE ETIOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, DELINQUENTS' SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND RESOCIALIZATION. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL IN QUEBEC, AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT WAS FORMED IN 1960 CONSISTING OF PROFESSORS IN SPECIALTIES RANGING FROM HISTORY AND PSYCHOLOGY TO PENAL LAW, STUDENTS WITH B.A. DEGREES, AND PROFESSIONALS PREVIOUSLY SEPARATED BY PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSIES (JUDGES, SOCIAL WORKERS, EDUCATORS). TODAY, BOTH GROUP RESEARCH AND TEACHING IN B.A. PROGRAM STRESS CRIME PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DELINQUENTS. IN PRACTICE, TWO PROFESSIONAL ROLES, ((1) THE MEDICAL MODEL; I.E., THE CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGIST WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT METHODS, AND CREATION OF A THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR CRIMINALS; AND (2) THE JUDICIAL MODEL; I.E., THE CRIMINOLOGIST CONCERNED WITH CONTROL, SURVEILLANCE, AND PREVENTION) ARE IN CONFLICT, AS ARE THOSE OF THE TEACHER AND RESEARCHER IN CRIMINOLOGY. FURTHERMORE, GENERAL DEBATES BETWEEN SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY TEND TO PLACE PROPONENTS OF SUCH IDEAS AS CONDITIONAL RELEASE AND PRISONERS' RIGHTS IN CONFLICT WITH ADVOCATES OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL OF PENAL LAW WHICH DEFENDS THE JUSTICE OF SENTENCES. EFFORTS TO SWAY PUBLIC OPINION IN FAVOR OF CRIMINOLOGY SHOULD INCLUDE ATTEMPTS TO PUBLICIZE RESEARCH RESULTS, SUPPORT FOR THE CRIMINOLOGY SOCIETY OF QUEBEC WHICH DEBATES THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN ADJUSTING A SECULAR SYSTEM TO THE REALITIES OF SOCIETY, AND PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CONFERENCES. CRIMINOLOGY, AS IT MATURES, MUST GUARD AGAINST INFLEXIBILITY, COMPROMISE, AND RESIGNATION. A SCHEMATIC TABLE OF TRENDS IN CRIMINOLOGY IS PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)