NCJ Number
16655
Journal
Case and Comment Volume: 80 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1975) Pages: 42-46
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION OF THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIALLY-ORIENTED CRIMINAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THE CAUSES OF INDIVIDUAL CRIMINALITY MUST BE DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE BEST METHOD OF DEALING WITH OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WHICH DEAL ONLY WITH GENERAL SOCIAL INFLUENCES CAPABLE OF AGENCY OR GOVERNMENT MANIPILATION HAVE BEEN LARGELY INEFFECTIVE. IT IS ARGUED THAT THESE PROGRAMS, INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUALIZING TREATMENT, PROVIDE SIMILAR TREATMENT FOR ALL OFFENDERS REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSES OF THEIR CRIMINALITY. HE STATES THAT WHILE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS MAY PROVOKE CRIMINAL REACTIONS IN SOME, HEREDITARY PREDISPOSITIONS TO AGGRESSIVE OR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR MAY BE THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF CRIMINALITY IN OTHERS. DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THESE TWO TYPES OF OFFENDERS IS SEEN AS A FIRST STEP IN DETERMING THE SORT OF CONFINEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WHICH ARE APPROPRIATE. HE CONCLUDES THAT DIAGNOSING THE CAUSES OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S CRIMINALITY IS BASIC TO A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE MAIN STRESS SHOULD BE REHABILITATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL BY EITHER PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL, OR ENVIRONMENTAL MANIPULATION ON THE ONE HAND, OR PROTECTION OF SOCIETY BY HIS CONFINEMENT UNDER MAXIMUM SECURITY CONDITIONS ON THE OTHER HAND. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)