NCJ Number
62117
Editor(s)
P R WILSON,
J BRAITHWAITE
Date Published
1978
Length
316 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK, STRUCTURED AROUND THE DIALECTICS OF OPPRESSION, EXPLOITATION, AND PRIVILEGE, PROPOSES THAT THE RULEMAKERS ARE THE MOST FLAGRANT RULEBREAKERS IN SOCIETY. EVIDENCE FROM AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS THIS TENET.
Abstract
'DEVIANCE' IS AN AMBIGUOUS TERM USED AS A VEHICLE FOR REINFORCING RULING IDEAS AND FOR SUPPRESSING DIVERSITY. A NUMBER OF CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATE HOW THE ATTRIBUTION OF DEVIANCE SERVES TO BOLSTER THE RULING HEGEMONY. THE POLICE AND THE MEDIA CREATE THEIR OWN PARTICULAR IMAGE OF DEVIANCE AND ARE BOTH ENORMOUS, COERCIVE INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIAL CONTROL. AT THE SAME TIME, RELATIVELY MINOR FORMS OF LAWBREAKING, SUCH AS USING OBSCENE WORDS, TAKING DRUGS, AND PROSTITUTION ARE DIFFERENTIALLY ENFORCED AGAINST POWERLESS PEOPLE. METHODS AND MECHANISMS BY WHICH THE POWERFUL IN SOCIETY USE THEIR POSITIONS OF PRIVILEGE TO ENGAGE IN EXPLOITIVE AND OFTEN ILLEGAL ACTS ARE CONSIDERED. THE MOTIVATIONS OF THOSE WHO 'PUSH' ILLEGAL DRUG COMPANIES. SITUATIONS IN WHICH CONSUMERS ARE CONSISTENTLY DEFRAUDED, BUT IN WHICH THE PERSON DOING THE DEFRAUDING HAS LITTLE RISK OF BEING CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED, ARE HIGHLIGHTED. THE QUESTION OF WHO IS REALLY FRAUDULENT--THE TAX DODGER OR THE WELFARE CHEAT--IS ALSO DISCUSSED. THREE SEPARATE ARTICLES ON CORPORATE CRIME VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATE THE CLASS BASIS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS DO EMPIRICAL CASE STUDIES OF COMPANY RULEBREAKING IN AN AUSTRALIAN SETTING. ANOTHER ARTICLE ARGUES THAT THE POWERFUL, SUCH AS INDUSTRY, COMMIT CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, KILLING AND MAIMING MANY MORE CITIZENS BY, FOR EXAMPLE, IGNORING SAFETY REGULATIONS OR OVERLOOKING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, THAN DO RAPISTS, MUGGERS, AND MURDERERS WHO DOMINATE MEDIA AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT CRIME AND DEVIANCE. OTHER ARTICLES IN THE BOOK DISAGREE WITH THIS POSITION. FINALLY, AN ACCOUNT OF VIOLENCE IN AN AUSTRALIAN PRISON SETTING ILLUSTRATES THE TWO FACES OF, AND STANDARDS TOWARDS, CRIME AND DEVIANCE. WHAT IS UNACEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR VICTIMS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS ACCEPTED AND OFTEN SANCTIONED BEHAVIOR FOR THE CUSTODIANS OF THAT VERY SYSTEM. FOOTNOTES, TABULAR DATA, AND A SUBJECT INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)