NCJ Number
123910
Journal
Contemporary Crises Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 137-155
Date Published
1990
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The societal definition of crime is eroding.
Abstract
As a consequence of this secular process the focus of interest among criminologists and the agents of the criminal justice system is widening towards the whole of society. A new definition of crime is emerging, based on the difference between dangerous career criminals and spontaneous one-time offenders. This difference is determined in terms of personality and character types based on criminological ideas about the typical hard-core criminal. Cohort studies provide the data and information to construct this ideal type. 48 references. (Author abstract)