VANDALISM AND SELF-REPORT STUDIES - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

• NCJ Number: 60864
• Author(s): M STACE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 43 pages
• Corporate Author: Victoria University of Wellington
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Victoria University of Wellington
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: New Zealand
• Note: OCCASIONAL PAPERS IN CRIMINOLOGY NO 6

Annotation

THIS PAPER REVIEWS THE LITERATURE DEALING WITH BOTH VANDALISM AND SELF-REPORT STUDIES IN NEW ZEALAND.

Abstract

THE FIRST PART OF THE PAPER REVIEWS LITERATURE SINCE 1954 ON VANDALISM IN NEW ZEALAND; THE SECOND PART REVIEWS THE LITERATURE ON SELF-REPORT STUDIES. VANDALISM IS DEFINED AS THE WILLFUL AND MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY. FROM 1962 TO 1976 THERE WAS A 165 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF WILLFUL DAMAGE REPORTED TO THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE. THREE MAJOR THEMES ARE FOUND IN THE LITERATURE FROM 1954 TO 1970 CONCERNING VANDALISM: (1) LITTLE CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE DEFINITION OF VANDALISM, (2) THE BEHAVIOR IS PURPOSELESS, AND (3) THE MOTIVE FOR VANDALISM IS PATHOLOGICAL. LITERATURE FROM 1970 TO 1978 DISCUSSES THE MOTIVATIONS FOR VANDALISM AS RANGING FROM COMMITTING AN OVERT POLITICAL ACT TO DOING AN ACT WITHOUT A DESIRE TO HURT OR HARM. THE ISSUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IN THWARTING OR ENCOURAGING VANDALISM ALSO IS EXAMINED. POLICIES DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH VANDALISM MUST BE CONCERNED WITH BROADER SOCIAL ISSUES. THERE ARE THREE MAIN ASPECTS OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY WHICH SELF-REPORT STUDIES MAY HELP TO CLARIFY: (1) QUANTITY--THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE TOTAL POPULATION WHO HAVE COMMITTED VARIOUS OFFENSES AND HOW OFTEN THEY HAVE DONE SO, (2) REMOVAL OF THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE INNOCENT AND THE CRIMINAL--ALL PEOPLE ARE PLACED ON A CONTINUUM FROM COMPLETELY INNOCENT TO COMPLETELY OFFENDING, AND (3) A COMPARISON TO DETECT SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE APPREHENDED AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT. THE TWO MOST FREQUENT METHODS EMPLOYED HAVE BEEN THE CONFIDENTIAL QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE INTERVIEW. VARIOUS METHODS USED TO CHECK RESPONSE VALIDITY INDICATE THAT SELF-REPORTS ARE GENERALLY VALID. SELF-REPORT STUDIES HAVE OFTEN BEEN USED ON MINORS, BUT FUTURE EFFORTS COULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. THE STUDIES REVEAL THAT CRIMINAL ACTS ARE COMMITTED BY MANY, AND THAT AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF DEVIANT ACTIVITY IN SOCIETY DICTATES A CONTINUUM OF ACTIVITY FROM COMPLETELY INNOCENT TO COMPLETELY CRIMINALLY ORIENTED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)