VICTIMS, POLICY AND THE DANGERS OF A CONSERVATIVE MENTALITY

• NCJ Number: 41398
• Author(s): L A CURTIS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Bureau of Social Science Research, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PREPARED FOR SECOND INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON VICTIMOLOGY, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SEPTEMBER 1976

Annotation

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND PARTICULARLY SINCE THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON VICTIMOLOGY IN 1973, IT HAS BECOME ALMOST ESTABLISHED DOGMA TO ARGUE THAT RESEARCH AND POLICY ON VICTIMS HAS BEEN UNDERDEVELOPED.

Abstract

SUBSEQUENT PROGRESS ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS NOW RUNS THE RISK OF BEING ENVELOPED BY A CONSERVATIVE 'NEW CRIMINOLOGY.' THE NEW CRIMINOLOGY, WHICH IS BEING TURNED INTO GOVERNMENT POLICY, QUESTIONS WHETHER ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE DETERMINANTS OF CRIME. IT EMPHASIZES DETERRENCE AND TARGET HARDENING. THERE ARE, THE AUTHOR POSITS, GOOD REASONS TO REJECT THIS POSITION. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR RESEARCHERS ON VICTIMS TO RETAIN A BROADER CONCEPTUAL VIEW OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS IN DEVIANCE AND THE SOCIETY IN WHICH IT OCCURS. BY THE SAME TOKEN, POLICY MAKERS IN A FREE SOCIETY NEED TO PRESS FOR BETTER TREATMENT OF VICTIMS WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF THE MORE FUNDAMENTAL, AND DIFFICULT, CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE DETERMINANTS OF CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...MSP