VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS - ITS CONTEXT AND MEANING (FROM CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, A READER, 1970 BY CARL A BERSANI - SEE NCJ-006248)

• NCJ Number: 10220
• Author(s): J LOHMAN
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Macmillan
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM NOTRE DAME LAWYER, V 40, N 5 (1965), P 517-526

Annotation

THE AUTHOR CITES THREE STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.

Abstract

THE FIRST IS THAT THE STRUCTURE OF RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT UNDER SITUATIONS OF STRESS IS SO WEAK AND SO IMPAIRED AS TO PERMIT VIOLENCE WHICH IS UNCONTROLLABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE SECOND STRUCTURAL CONDITION THAT ENCOURAGES OVERT VIOLENCE IS THE ABSENCE OF EFFECTIVE CHANNELS FOR EXPRESSING GRIEVANCES. THE THIRD STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATION OF IMPORTANCE IS THE EMPIRICAL CONDITION OF VIOLENCE AS IT EXISTS TODAY. THAT CONDITION IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THOSE WHO ARE AGGRIEVED ACTUALLY BEING IN TOUCH AND IN A NEW AND EXTRAORDINARY RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. THE ECOLOGY OF VIOLENCE COMMANDS ATTENTION. THE PROXIMITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS OF COMMON PLIGHT AND CONDITIONS, AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS SYSTEM OF SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WHICH PLACES THEM IN THE FORM OF A SUBCULTURE, CONSTITUTES A CONDITION OF VIOLENCE WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO OCCASION TO ADDRESS SERIOUSLY IN THE PAST. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)