NCJ Number
37186
Date Published
1975
Length
13 pages
Annotation
COPING WITH MARGINAL DEVIANCE CALLS FOR INFORMAL CONTROLS BASED ON ACTIVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT WHICH, IN TURN, PRESUPPOSES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CONCEPTS OF DEVIANCE INHERENT IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THOSE HELD BY SOCIETY.
Abstract
WHERE SUCH SUPPORT IS NOT FORTHCOMING, MAJOR CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND A PROGRESSION TO MORE SERIOUS FORMS OF DEVIANCE MUST BE EXPECTED. UNDER THE TERM MARGINAL DEVIANCE PARTICULAR REFERENCE IS MADE TO ECONOMIC OFFENCES, AS WELL AS TO A CLUSTER OF DEVIANCE PHENOMENA ASSOCIATED WITH SITUATIONS OF STRESS OR RAPID SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE, AND RANGING FROM ALCOHOLISM, DRUG USE, SUICIDE AND DEPRESSIVE-TYPE MENTAL DISORDERS TO PETTY TRADITIONAL OFFENCES, SEVERANCE OF FAMILY TIES AND NON-SUPPORT OF DEPENDENTS, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. THREE CHARACTERISTIC PROBLEM AREAS ARE DISCUSSED: THE VIOLATION OF RATIONING AND PROHIBITION NORMS, FORMAL AND INFORMAL CONTROLS UNDER CRISIS CONDITIONS, AND PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THIS PAPER DRAWS UPON DATA FROM A UNITED NATIONS SOCIAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (UNSDRI) WORK PROGRAM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) --SUMMARIES IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND GERMAN