NCJ Number
50007
Journal
IMESC (INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL MEDICINE AND CRIMINOLOGY OF SAO PAULO Volume: 2 Issue: 6 Dated: (SEPTEMBEROCTOBER 1977) Pages: BRAZIL)/BOLETIM OFICAL,P 2-7
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
HOW BIOMEDICINE HAS CHANGED AND SHOULD FURTHER CHANGE CRIMINOLOGY IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS MAY BE ROOTED IN THE PRENATAL OR INFANT STAGES OF LIFE, BUT MAY NOT MANIFEST THEMSELVES UNTIL ADOLESCENCE, YOUTH, OR ADULTHOOD. DESPITE SUCH OBSERVATIONS, SEVERAL COUNTRIES ARE ABANDONING CLASSICAL CRIMINOLOGY WHICH IS BASED ON THE BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, FOR SO-CALLED CRIMINAL POLITICS. THIS MAY BE DUE MOSTLY TO A LACK OF RESEARCH INITIATIVE OR TO A LACK OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR FURTHER RESEARCH. THE CONCEPT OF CRIMINAL POLITICS IS GAINING MOMENTUM BY CHANGING THE CONCEPT OF CRIME TO A CONCEPT OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC PHENOMENA, AND BY DECRIMINALIZING SOME CRIMES, WHICH MAY CREATE INCONSISTENCY FROM ONE SOCIETY TO ANOTHER. CRIMINOLOGY AS A DESCRIPTIVE AND ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE WITH A BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL ORIENTATION MUST EVOLVE INTO A SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DISCIPLINE WITH ANALYTICAL AND DYNAMIC TENDENCIES. CRIME AS A NATURAL PROCESS OF THE SOCIOPOLITICAL EVOLUTION MUST BE STUDIED FOR THE SURVIVAL AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIETY. THE PENAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE NOT RETRIBUTION, SOCIAL DEFENSE, OR SIMPLY REHABILITATION, BUT RATHER SOCIAL JUSTICE. RESEARCH SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR AND ITS DEVIATIONS. NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY BEHAVIOR DEVIATES AND WHAT CRIMES ENSUE BECAUSE OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. EVENTUALLY, THESE DEVIATIONS SHOULD BE CURED THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION WITH THE HELP OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. --IN SPANISH. (INL)