NCJ Number
42986
Journal
Victimology Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 102-106
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ESSAY DESCRIBES THE LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND OF A 1973 LAW, CONTENTS OF THE LAW, AND STATISTICS ON ITS OPERATION DURING ITS FIRST YEAR.
Abstract
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF CURRENT PENAL POLICY PROVIDE THE SETTING. TWO PRINCIPAL GOALS OF PENAL POLICY PREDOMINATE: TO REDUCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SOCIAL COSTS RELATED TO CRIME; AND TO ENSURE THAT COSTS AND SUFFERING WHICH OCCUR ARE JUSTLY DISTRIBUTED. AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT UNDERLYING PENAL POLICY IS THAT, WHEREAS THE QUALITY AND THE QUANTITY OF CRIMINALITY IN A SOCIETY DEPEND PRIMARILY ON ITS SOCIAL STRUCTURE, PENAL LEGISLATION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT IN DISTRIBUTING PROPERLY THE COSTS AND SUFFERING AMONG SOCIAL GROUPS: VICTIM, OFFENDER, AND THE REST OF SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).