NCJ Number
65910
Journal
Howard Journal of Penology and Crime Prevention Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (1980) Pages: 17-26
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER ATTEMPTS TO REINSTATE THE CONCEPT OF RESPONSIBILITY AS A RELEVANT SOCIOLOGICAL CRITERION AND INDICATES ITS USE IN DESCRIBING EMPIRICALLY HOW DEVIANT ACTS COME TO BE PERFORMED.
Abstract
THE NOTION OF RESPONSIBILITY HAS REMAINED OUTSIDE SOCIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS BECAUSE OF ITS MORAL CONNOTATIONS, ITS ROLE IN PENOLOGICAL ISSUES, AND ITS INDIVIDUALISTIC APPLICATION TO THE OFFENDER. THE OFFENDER'S PERCEIVED 'PERMISSION FOR OFFENSE' NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIRD PARTIES (VICTIM, ASSOCIATES, BYSTANDERS, POLICE) FOR ALLOWING AN OFFENSE TO OCCUR. AN ADEQUATE ACCOUNT OF HOW OFFENSES HAPPEN MUST IDENTIFY THOSE SITUATIONS IN MODERN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES IN WHICH PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS, FOR IT IS IN SUCH SITUATIONS THAT OFFENSES ARE LIKELY TO BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE. PRIVATIZATION IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH SOCIAL AND GEOGRAPHIC LIMITS ARE SET TO RESPONSIBILITY AND THROUGH WHICH PEOPLE ARE FOUND TO FEEL RESPONSIBLE ONLY FOR THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THEIR OWN PRIVATE TERRITORY. OUTSIDE THESE LIMITS, THE ACTOR IS IN A PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT AND COMPARATIVELY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF STRANGERS. ACCORDINGLY, RECORDED JUVENILE CRIME IS TYPICALLY DIRECTED TOWARD STRANGERS IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND NOT WITHIN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT OF THE OFFENDER. THE DECLINE IN BYSTANDER RESPONSIBILITY HAS RESULTED IN THE INCREASED NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL POLICE FORCES AND THE OFFENDERS' BRAZEN ASSURANCE THAT HIS ACT WILL NOT BE INTERFERED WITH. GRASS ROOTS INITIATIVES AT SELF-POLICING ARE URGED AS A RETURN TO A SENSE OF COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. THE MUTUAL ANONYMITY OF VICTIM AND OFFENDER HEIGHTENS THE VICTIM'S IRRESPONSIBILITY AND THE OFFENDERS' INABILITY TO IDENTIFY WITH THE INFLICTED HURT OR LOSS. UNLIKE VICTIMS AND BYSTANDERS, THE OFFENDERS' PEERS ARE KNOWN TO HIM AND FREQUENTLY PLAY A DISSUASIVE ROLE. THE PRIVATIZATION THESIS SUGGESTS THAT USE OF PEERS AND ASSOCIATES AS AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL IS THE ONLY EFFECTIVE WAY OF MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER IN A MODERN URBAN SOCIETY. FURTHER STUDIES TOWARD ESTABLISHING A LINK BETWEEN PRIVATIZATION AND DEVIANCE ARE URGED. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)