NCJ Number
51484
Journal
ETUDES INTERNATIONALES DE PSYCHO-SOCIOLOGIE CRIMINELLE Issue: 26-28 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1975) Pages: COMPLETE ISSUE
Date Published
1975
Length
64 pages
Annotation
FOUR ARTICLES ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VICTIMIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIETY ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE FIRST ARGUES THAT BOTH VIOLENCE AND JUSTICE ARE DEPENDENT ON A SOCIOPOLITICAL STRUCTURE WHICH MAKES THEM BOTH PERMANENT RATHER THAN ON INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER OR CONCEPTS OF LAW AND ORDER. THE MODERN CRISIS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESULTS FROM THE NATURE OF THE EXTENT SOCIOPOLITICAL REGIMES, SO THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO CONSTRUCT MORE JUST SOCIOPOLITICAL STRUCTURES, NOT TO ESTABLISH FURTHER LAWS TO COUNTERACT THOSE IN EXISTENCE. THE SECOND ARTICLE TREATS THE EXOGENOUS FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO VICTIMIZATION BOTH IN CAPITALIST DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS AND IN COMMUNIST TOTALITARIAN SYSTEMS. UNDER THE COMPETITIVE INDIVIDUALISTIC CAPITALIST SYSTEMS DOMINATED BY MATERIALISTIC VALUES, CATEGORIES OF VICTIMS INCLUDE RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC MINORITIES, THE POOR, IMMIGRANTS, AND INDEPENDENT INTELLECTUALS, WHILE IN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES REPRESSIVE TO INDIVIDUALISM, OPPONENTS OF THE STATE, NONCONFORMISTS, AND PERSONS EXCLUDED FROM HIGHER EDUCATION ARE LIKELY TO BECOME VICTIMS. IN EITHER SITUATION, THERE IS NO PLACE FOR TIMIDITY, AS EVEN JUSTICE GOES HAND IN HAND WITH FORCE. THIRDLY, IN A STUDY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS, THE LACK OF GUARANTEES FOR LEGAL RIGHTS OF MINORS IS DECRIED, AND THE NEED FOR VARYING TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS (JUVENILE DELINQUENTS, MINOR OFFENDERS, MINORS AT RISK) IS EMPHASIZED. TO SATISFY THEIR LEGAL MANDATE ADEQUATELY, JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS SHOULD STRESS PREVENTION RATHER THAN REPRESSION; AVOID IMPRISONMENT OF HOMELESS YOUTHS AND CONCENTRATION IN LARGE CITIES; HOUSE JUVENILES CLOSE TO THEIR FAMILIES; AND EMPLOY TRAINED, COMPETENT PERSONNEL. IN THE FINAL STUDY, CRIMINOLOGICAL AND JUDICIAL CONCERNS CENTRAL TO VICTIMIZATION ARE DEFINED AS: IDENTIFICATION OF THE PASSIVE SUBJECT; ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW FIELD OF STUDY RELATING TO THE VICTIM; MOTIVATIONAL RESEARCH ON THE PASSIVE SUBJECT'S BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO THE CRIME; THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ACTIVE AND THE PASSIVE SUBJECTS; CONSIDERATION OF THE VICTIM AS THE MEANS OF COMMITTING A CRIME; CHOICE OF VICTIMS ACCORDING TO POLITICAL IDEAS, RELIGION, OR RACE SO THAT THE INDIVIDUAL VICTIM'S PERSONALITY IS LOST; INVOLVEMENT OF VICTIMS IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES; VICTIM INCIDENCE; AND LEGAL ACTION BY THE PASSIVE SUBJECT AFTER THE CRIME. --IN FRENCH AND SPANISH. (KMD)