NCJ Number
63466
Date Published
1976
Length
45 pages
Annotation
ADDRESSES AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS ARE PRESENTED FROM A SCOTTISH CONFERENCE ON VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS, AT SPORTING EVENTS, IN INSTITUTIONS, AND IN THE HOME.
Abstract
WHILE SOME DISAGREEMENT WAS EXPRESSED AMONG CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS (CRIMINOLOGISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, POLICE, AND CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS) ABOUT STATISTICS SHOWING A RADICAL INCREASE IN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN SCOTLAND IN RECENT YEARS, PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT VIOLENCE HAD REACHED DISTURBING PROPORTIONS. VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN THE STREETS, PUBS, AND AT FOOTBALL GAMES WAS NOTED TO BE MOST OFTEN PERPETRATED BY JUVENILES AND YOUNG ADULTS. DRINKING PATTERNS AND PEER SUPPORT FOR VIOLENT BEHAVIOR WERE CITED AS CONTRIBUTING CAUSES FOR SUCH VIOLENCE. THE CONTROLLED USE OF ALCOHOL AND ITS PROHIBITION AT PUBLIC ATHLETIC EVENTS WERE MENTIONED AS MEANS OF REDUCING UNINHIBITED AGGRESSION. INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE WAS CONSIDERED A PROBLEM, ALBEIT NOT A SERIOUS ONE. HUMANE TREATMENT OF INMATES, CONSTRUCTIVE OUTLETS FOR AGGRESSION, AND PROGRAMS TO REDUCE INMATES' SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS WERE SUGGESTED AS WAYS OF COUNTERING VIOLENCE IN PRISONS. WHILE NO STATISTICS EXIST ON THE EXTENT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE (CHILD AND WIFE ABUSE), IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM. THE CULTURAL CONDITIONING FOR MALE DOMINANCE AND CONTROL IN THE HOME WAS CITED AS A BASIC CAUSE OF MALE-PERPETRATED VIOLENCE AGAINST WIVES AND CHILDREN. ALCOHOL ABUSE WAS ALSO MENTIONED AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. BECAUSE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO INTERVENE IN FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES, PARTICIPANTS GENERALLY AGREED THAT A BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTION FROM UNDUE STATE INTERVENTION IN FAMILY LIFE AND GOVERNMENT PROTECTION FOR THOSE THREATENED BY FAMILY MEMBERS IS NEEDED. (RCB)