NCJ Number
29474
Date Published
1974
Length
270 pages
Annotation
A MONOGRAPH, DRAWING ON EVIDENCE FROM THE FIELDS OF LAW, PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHIATRY, SOCIOLOGY, AND ANTHROPOLOGY ON THE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES AND THEIR LEGAL SANCTIONS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS A TWOFOLD EVALUATION OF SUCH PROSCRIBED BEHAVIOR. ARE SUCH ACTIONS TRULY UNDESIRABLE IN THAT THEY WILL HAVE DAMAGING SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES? AND WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONTINUED CRIMINALIZATION OF SUCH BEHAVIOR? VICTIMLESS CRIMES OFTEN REPRESENT DEFINED DEVIATIONS SINGLED OUT FOR MORE SUBTLE REASONS THAN THOSE STATED IN CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THEM. SINGLING OUT BEHAVIORAL ITEMS AND LABELING THEM CREATES DESIGNATED GROUPS AND PUSHES THESE GROUPS TOWARD ALIENATION IF THEIR ACTIONS ARE VIEWED AS INVIDIOUS. GIVEN SUCH A SITUATION, THERE IS THE NEED TO EMPHASIZE THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF TOLERANCE AND FLEXIBILITY, COMBINED WITH ATTITUDES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE AND REWARD DESIRED BEHAVIOR.