SEPARATION OF CRIME CONTROL FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE TOWARD A GENERAL THEORY OF CRIME CONTROL PLANNING DRAFT

• NCJ Number: 12476
• Author(s): H J SHIN; C DUNN
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: State University of New York at Albany
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EFFECTIVE PLANNING REQUIRES THE CONCEPTUAL SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS WHICH DETERMINE THE OCCURRENCE OF A CRIME FROM THE ARREST AND PROCESSING OF CRIMINALS.

Abstract

THE ACTIVITIES OF POLICE, COURTS AND CORRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN AS THE RITUAL RESPONSE OF SOCIETY TO ACTIONS PERCEIVED AS WRONG. HOWEVER, THE CRIMINAL INCIDENT ITSELF IS NOT SYMBOLIC. IT IS A SOMETIMES HARSH FACT OR EVENT WHICH IS NOT ERASED BY ANY RITUAL OR PART THEREOF. CRIMES CANNOT BE CLEARED BY ARREST, AS THE POLICE CONCEPT WOULD LEAD ONE TO BELIEVE. ARREST INSTEAD LEADS ONLY TO THE CONCLUSION OF ONE PARTICIPANT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE RITUAL WHICH FOLLOWS A CRIME. THE CRIMINAL INCIDENT INITIATES FORCES AND REACTIONS THAT RESULT IN THE RITUAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. TO SUGGEST, HOWEVER, THAT THE RITUAL NECESSARILY HAS ANY IMPACT UPON THE GENERATING INCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IMPACT RELATED TO ITS CONTROL OR PREVENTION, IS MISLEADING. BY CONSIDERING THE SYMBOLIC ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS AND MECHANISMS FOR CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL SEPARATELY, WE CAN CLARIFY GOALS NEEDED TO GUIDE BOTH EFFECTIVE CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION PLANNING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)