NCJ Number
52327
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 67-76
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR INDIA, BASED ON THE DELIBERATION OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE CONVENED BY THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, ARE PROPOSED.
Abstract
REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING A RESEARCH AGENDA ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE SOCIETY'S APPROACH TO DEVELOPING AN AGENDA IS DESCRIBED. AS A FRAMEWORK FOR THE AGENDA, THREE TYPES OF RESEARCH ARE IDENTIFIED: CONCEPTS, DOCTRINES, PRINCIPLES, AND THEORY; INSTITUTIONS AND PROCEDURES; AND PERSONNEL AND ACTORS IN THE SYSTEM. RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND ISSUES ARE IDENTIFIED WITHIN SEVEN MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY: THE CRIME PROBLEM; UNDERSTANDING CRIME; THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; JUVENILE DELINQUENCY; SOCIOECONOMIC OFFENSES; SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIAL DEFENSE; AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL DEFENSE. FACTORS THAT HAVE INHIBITED THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN INDIA ARE NOTED, INCLUDING INDIAN POLICYMAKERS' FAILURE TO USE CRIMINOLOGICAL DATA IN THEIR DECISIONMAKING AND THE LACK OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO CRIMINOLOGY IN INDIA. RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND ISSUES ARE CATEGORIZED AS EITHER OVERRESEARCHED, FAIRLY RESEARCHED, SOMEWHAT RESEARCHED, POORLY RESEARCHED, OR NONRESEARCHED, AND A LIST OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS IS DEVELOPED ON THE BASIS OF THIS CATEGORIZATION. REFINED AND REFORMULATED, THE QUESTIONS ARE TO CONSTITUTE A 20-YEAR RESEARCH AGENDA FOR INDIA. THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE ADDRESSED BY THE QUESTIONS: ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF CRIME; DECRIMINALIZATION; THE BASIS OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY; SIMPLIFYING THE CRIMINAL CODE; DEFINING CRIMINOLOGY BEHAVIOR; HUMAN RIGHTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS; THE LAW AND MENTALLY ILL AND IMMATURE PERSONS; CAPITAL PUNISHMENT; CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE; VICTIMLESS CRIMES; VICTIMIZATION; AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG POVERTY, POLITICS, RELIGION, AND CRIME. OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE: HIDDEN CRIMINALITY; SOCIAL CHANGE AND CRIME; CRIME COSTS; CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS; CRIME PREDICTION; EVALUATING CORRECTIONAL METHODS; AND ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT. OTHER SUBJECTS ARE: COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS; TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION AND YOGA IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONS; PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE; COURT DELAYS; POLICE MANAGEMENT; SOCIOECONOMIC OFFENSES; EVIDENTIARY PROCESSES AND LAW; AND INTERAGENCY COORDINATION. COOPERATION IS URGED BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND CONFLICT-ORIENTED CRIMINOLOGISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE ON SOCIAL POLICY AND STRUCTURE, VALUE ASSUMPTIONS OF SOCIETY, AND THE MECHANICS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR. (LKM)