NCJ Number
54580
Journal
HUMAN NATURE Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 50-56
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE CONTENTION OF THIS ARTICLE IS THAT HABITUAL OFFENDERS LIVE IN A WORLD APART FROM WHAT MAY BE CALLED A CONFORMIST SOCIETY, WITH MOST CONVICTS VIEWED AS PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS, SOCIALIZED INTO LIVES OF CRIME.
Abstract
MOST HARDENED CRIMINALS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN CONVENTIONAL EMPLOYMENT, AND THE MAJORITY OF CONVICTED FELONS GO BACK TO LIVES OF CRIME AFTER RELEASE FROM JAIL. PRISON IS NOT NECESSARILY AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR CAREER CRIMINALS. THEY MAY EVEN REGARD AN OCCASIONAL PRISON SENTENCE AS A KIND OF VACATION AND AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CULTIVATE NEW CRIMINAL ASSOCIATIONS. PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS NOT ONLY HOLD TRADITIONAL SOCIETY IN CONTEMPT BUT ALSO HAVE LITTLE RESPECT FOR AMATEUR OR CHANCE CRIMINALS WHOSE INCARCERATION RESULTS FROM A TWIST OF FATE RATHER THAN FROM CRIMINAL DEDICATION. CRIMINALITY IS AN ATTITUDE TOWARD LIFE THAT USUALLY BEGINS IN YOUTH. EARLY CRIMES TEND TO BE COMMITTED UNDER PEER PRESSURE AND ARE SEEN AS FUN. CRIME PAYS IN FINANCIAL TERMS, AND THE ODDS AGAINST BEING CAUGHT FAVOR CRIMINALS. ESTIMATES ARE THAT ONLY 1 OUT OF EVERY 100 PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SERIOUS CRIMES RECEIVES A PRISON SENTENCE. THE CHANCE OF BEING IMPRISONED FOR LESSER CRIMES, EVEN IF THE PERSON IS A HABITUAL OFFENDER, IS ABOUT 1 IN 300. PLEA BARGAINING RESULTS IN REDUCED SENTENCES IN APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE CRIMINAL CASES. CAREER CRIMINALS SEE THEIR ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF CHANCES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE WORTH TAKING. THE CRIMINAL WORLD ATTRACTS ITS MEMBERS FROM AMONG HABITUAL OFFENDERS BY PROVIDING A READY-MADE SYSTEM OF MEANING. ALL PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS SHARE ONE CHARACTERISTIC; THEY LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW. CAREER OFFENDERS EXPERIENCE LITTLE GUILT BECAUSE CRIMINAL SUBCULTURES PROVIDE SANCTIONS FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR. GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES INFLUENCE THE WAY IN WHICH CRIMINALS LEGITIMIZE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OF THESE CRIMINALS ARE TOO INGRAINED TO BE ROOTED OUT BY CONVENTIONAL THERAPEUTIC METHODS. CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE INMATES TO DEVELOP LONG-RANGE JOB PLANS AND TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR A STEADY JOB ARE GENERALLY UNREALISTIC. TO BE EFFECTIVE, THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS MUST PROCEED FROM A RECOGNITION THAT THERE ARE SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ONE-TIME OFFENDERS AND CAREER CRIMINALS. CONVERSION THERAPY IS RECOMMENDED, IN WHICH THE THERAPIST MAKES THE OFFENDER AWARE OF THE SHORTCOMINGS OF HIS OR HER WORLD VIEW, THEN PRESENTS CONFORMIST REALITY TO THE CLIENT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO RESOLVE DOUBT IN CONFORMIST TERMS. FINALLY, THE CLIENT CAN BE HELPED TO IDENTIFY WITH CONFORMIST REALITY. FURTHER READINGS ARE SUGGESTED. (DEP)