NCJ Number
198686
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 41 Issue: 5 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 469-484
Editor(s)
Tony Fowles,
David Wilson
Date Published
December 2002
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article examines the implementation of the British anti-social behavior order (ASBO) dealing with neighborhood misbehavior or nuisance control and the struggles encountered in getting the ASBO established.
Abstract
In the mid-1990's, the idea of the anti-social behavior order (ASBO), known originally as the Community Safety Order, took root in the New Labor thought process. Neighborhoods were seen as terrorized by outrageous and deplorable behavior by one or two families, groups, or individuals. Lobbying from within the local government expressed concerns over the rising volume of complaints of unneighborly and predatory behavior in areas of high employment. However, adopting the label of “anti-social behavior” instead of “community safety” evoked a range of different perspectives depending on who was doing the labeling. Youth were not perceived as victims, but rather as the ones hanging out, thereby becoming the universal symbol of disorder and a menace. ASBO was seen as a way of handling youth crime since there was no civil power to target them individually. Crime and disorder partnerships, local structures were created and handed a legal instrument to use and demonstrate that the central government had responded to the concerns and was in charge of the problem. Patterns of ASBO reveal that it is essentially another tool for dealing with persistent young offenders. Extending the scope and availability of ASBOs is critically rated. References