NCJ Number
66622
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE SECOND OF A FOUR-PART SERIES ON CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN THE U.S., THIS FILMSTRIP ANALYZES SOME OF THE CAUSES OF CRIME AND THE BREAKDOWN OF CONFORMITY TO CONVENTIONAL STANDARDS.
Abstract
PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRIES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. LAWS ARE BASED ON WHAT OUR CULTURE BELIEVES SHOULD BE PROHIBITED OR ENCOURAGED, BUT AMERICAN SOCIETY IS COMPOSED OF VARIOUS CULTURES THAT OFTEN CLASH WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE WAVES OF IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME TO THE U.S. EVOKED HOSTILE RESPONSES FROM THOSE WHO WERE ALREADY SETTLED AND PART OF THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICA. ALL IMMIGRANTS HAD THE SAME GOAL OF MAKING BETTER LIVES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE TRADITIONAL CULTURE AND MORES OF IMMIGRANTS PROTECTED THE FIRST GENERATION, BUT THEIR AMERICAN-BORN CHILDREN SOUGHT TO FLEE THE CONFINES OF POVERTY IN THE URBAN SLUMS. PARADOXICALLY, THE VALUES OF THIS SECOND GENERATION CAME FROM THE VERY SLUMS THESE PEOPLE SOUGHT TO ESCAPE. THE DETERIORATION OF TRADITIONAL VALUES AND INTENSE PEER PRESSURE ARE THOUGHT BY MANY EXPERTS TO LEAD TO CRIME. OTHERS BLAME AMERICAN MATERIALISM AND LACK OF PARENTAL CONTROL FOR CRIME AMONG ADOLESCENTS. HOWEVER, NO MATTER HOW MANY EXPLANATIONS CRIMINOLOGISTS OFFER FOR CAUSES OF CRIME, OUR LAWS DEMAND INDIVIDUAL MORAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS. MOST AMERICANS DO NOT COMMIT CRIMES AND THEY DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED FROM THOSE WHO DO. THE KIT CONTAINS A COLOR FILMSTRIP AND AN AUDIO CASSETTE. FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE SERIES, SEE NCJ 66620-21, AND 66623-24. (PRG)