NCJ Number
2419
Date Published
1965
Length
131 pages
Annotation
PSYCHIATRIC LITERATURE IS DRAWN UPON TO INTERPRET THE FINDINGS OF A STUDY OF CRIMINALITY OF CANADIAN PENITENTIARY INMATES.
Abstract
CERTAIN PROVISIONAL CONJECTURES, AS TO SOME CAUSES OF CRIMINALITY ARE PRESENTED, AND REFORMS WHICH WOULD FOLLOW FROM THE CONJECTURES ARE PROPOSED. THE PRINCIPAL HYPOTHESIS IS THAT DAMAGING DEGREES OF DEPRIVATION BROUGHT ABOUT BY VARIOUS KINDS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION DURING CRITICAL LIFE PERIODS CAN SERIOUSLY HANDICAP THE INDIVIDUAL IN LEARNING AND USING THE SOCIAL SKILLS ESSENTIAL TO THE LIVING OF A NON-CRIMINAL LIFE. ASSUMPTIONS OF CRIME CAUSATION AND ITS NATURE HELD BY THE AUTHOR ARE EXPLAINED. THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES HIS PILOT PROJECT ON GROUP TREATMENT AND RECIDIVISM IN A PENITENTIARY WHERE COMPARISONS BETWEEN FIRST OFFENDER AND RECIDIVIST ATTITUDES ARE ATTEMPTED. DISRUPTIVE PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ARE EXPLAINED AND INCORPORATED INTO A THEORY OF CRIME CAUSATION. DISCUSSIONS ON INCREASED INCIDENCE OF CRIME, RISING RATES OF RECIDIVISM ARE PRESENTED WITH ENSUING EXPLANATIONS ON THE FACTORS GUARDING AGAINST CHANGE AND PROPOSALS FOR PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RESEARCH OF CRIME.