NCJ Number
32890
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1976) Pages: 56-62
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
NINETY LONG-TERM PRISONERS WERE STUDIED, TWENTY-SEVEN OF WHOM WERE CONVICTED OF ARMED ROBBERY: THE GROUP OF ROBBERS WAS COMPARED WITH THE OTHER PRISONERS ON THEIR VIOLENT AND AGGRESSIVE TENDENCIES.
Abstract
COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE ROBBERS AND OTHER LONG-TERM PRISONERS REVEALED VERY FEW SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES EXCEPT THAT THE ROBBERS WERE YOUNGER, RATED BY US AS MORE VIOLENT AND BY THEMSELVES AS LESS LIKELY TO GET ANGRY UNDER STRESS THAN OTHER PRISONERS. A CLASSIFICATION SUGGESTED BY MCCLINTOCK AND GIBSON ENABLED US TO SEPARATE THE MORE PROFESSIONAL ROBBERS; THESE MEN, HOWEVER, HARDLY DIFFERED ON OUR VARIABLES FROM THE OTHER ROBBERS EXCEPT THAT WE HAD RATED THEM AS SLIGHTLY LESS VIOLENT AND THEY HAD COLLECTED FEWER CONVICTIONS. TEN MEN HAD PREVIOUS ROBBERY CONVICTIONS; THEY SAW THEMSEVLES AS MORE ASSAULTATIVE, MORE VERBALLY VIOLENT, LESS GUILT-RIDDEN AND MORE PRONE TO STEAL UNDER STRESS THAN THEIR FIRSTTIMER COMPATRIOTS. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDED THAT THE ROBBER IS A SPECIALISED THIEF WITH A SPECIAL ATTITUDE AND A SPECIAL SKILL WHICH HE HAS LEARNED ON HIS CRIMINAL ROAD. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)