SOCIAL FORCES AND THE PREVENTION OF CRIMINALITY

• NCJ Number: 61438
• Journal: International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 95-122
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 28 pages
• Corporate Author: Wichita State University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: FROM THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONGRESS ON THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, STOCKHOLM, AUGUST 9-18, 1965

Annotation

THE MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL FORCES TO REDUCE AND PREVENT CRIME IS DISCUSSED IN A REPORT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS CONGRESS ON CRIME PREVENTION AND OFFENDER TREATMENT.

Abstract

SOCIAL FORCES, SUCH AS THE FAMILY, RELIGION, PUBLIC OPINION, NATIONALISM, TRADITION, URBANIZATION, AND EDUCATION, GREATLY INFLUENCE HUMAN BEHAVIOR. CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS MUST AIM AT MANAGING SOCIAL INFLUENCES CONSTRUCTIVELY SO THAT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS PRECLUDED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE, LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR. PUBLIC OPINION MUST BE MOBILIZED IN THE CONTEXT OF OFFICIAL POLICY WITH PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD ANY ISSUE OR PROGRAM DETERMINED BY OPINION POLLS, QUESTIONNAIRES, AND INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC CRIME PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL AGENCIES. THE PUBLIC MIGHT BECOME MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN LAW INTERPRETATION AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE USE OF TRADITIONAL TRIBAL COURTS AND VOLUNTARY CITIZEN POLICE UNITS IN SOME AREAS OF THE WORLD. BECAUSE THE COHESIVENESS OF THE FAMILY IN THE MIDST OF URBANIZATION IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DETERMING THE LEVEL OF DELINQUENCY, MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF SOCIAL, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY COULD BE BENEFICIAL, ALONG WITH URBAN PLANNING THAT SERVES THE INTERESTS OF THE FAMILY UNIT. AWARENESS OF THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN INFLUENCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL PATTERNS SHOULD LEAD TO THE FORMULATION OF DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUMS GEARED TO INDIVIDUAL APTITUDES AND VOCATIONAL INTERESTS. SCHOLASTIC EDUCATION MUST BE BALANCED WITH VOCATIONAL TRAINING IF MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE FAIL IN SCHOLASTIC PERFORMANCE ARE TO FIND SATISFYING JOBS. PROPER VOCATIONAL COUNSELING, EXTENDED JOB INFORMATION SERVICES, AND EFFECTIVE JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES COULD ALSO HELP PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEVIANT OR CRIMINAL LIFESTYLES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)