NCJ Number
65686
Date Published
1979
Length
36 pages
Annotation
PROCEEDINGS OF A BRITISH SEMINAR ON PETTY PERSISTENT OFFENDERS -- VAGRANTS AND OTHERS WHOSE FREQUENT CONTACTS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE PRECIPITATED BY TRIVIAL OFFENSES -- ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE REPORT CONSISTS OF THREE PAPERS, AND SUMMARIES OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS' DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS. THE FIRST PAPER DESCRIBES CHARACTERISTICS OF PETTY PERSISTENT OFFENDERS, PROBLEMS IN DEFINING THESE OFFENDERS AS A GROUP, AND RESEARCH AIMED AT MINIMIZING THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. THE SECOND PAPER ASSESSES THE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES TO MEET THESE OFFENDERS' NEEDS FOR ACCOMMODATION, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATIONAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES, HEALTH CARE, AND ASSISTANCE WITH FAMILY AND OTHER INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS. THE THIRD PAPER CONSIDERS THE ROLE OF THE COURTS IN DEALING WITH PETTY PERSISTENT OFFENDERS, FOCUSING ON STATUTORY AND OTHER MEANS OF LIMITING THE USE OF IMPRISONMENT. SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THERE WAS A PRESSING NEED TO COORDINATE COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR PETTY PERSISTENT OFFENDERS, PREFERABLY THROUGH PROBATION AND AFTERCARE AGENCIES. COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS, COMBINED WITH ADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION, WERE SEEN AS A PROMISING ALTERNATIVE TO IMPRISONMENT. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT MANY IMPROVEMENTS WERE POSSIBLE WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION, BUT THAT PROBATION AND AFTERCARE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE COURTS, MUST CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD PETTY PERSISTENT OFFENDERS.