NCJ Number
12099
Date Published
1974
Length
310 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION AND CRITIQUE OF CRIME CAUSE THEORIES BASED ON HOW ADEQUATELY THEY EXPLAIN THE CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS AND PROPERTY WHICH AROUSE PUBLIC ANXIETY.
Abstract
PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS OF CRIME, LIKE LAYMEN, QUARREL ABOUT WHICH WRONGS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CRIMES. CRIMINOLOGISTS DISPUTE HOW TO COUNT CRIME, WHERE TO LAY THE BLAME FOR IT, AND WHAT MEASURES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AGAINST IT. MANY OF THESE EXPLANATORY EFFORTS ARE DESCRIBED AND CRITICIZED IN THIS WORK. THE STANDARD OF CRITICISM IS HOW ADEQUATELY AN EXPLANATION OR THEORY ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS ABOUT CRIME ASKED BY MOST CITIZENS. THEREFORE, THEORIES EXPLAINING CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS, PROPERTY, AND SECONDARILY THE INSTITUTIONS WHICH PROTECT PERSONS AND PROPERTY ARE EXAMINED AND A CONCLUDING CHAPTER SURVEYS 'CRIME-PRODUCTIVE' SOCIETAL CONDITIONS. THE MEANING OF 'CRIME,' FROM ITS LEGAL DEFINITION THROUGH ITS MORAL DENOTATIONS IS DISCUSSED. THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN MEASURING CRIME BOTH OFFICIALLY USING POLICE AND CRIMINAL RECORDS AND UNOFFICIALLY (SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES AND SELF-REPORTING) ARE REVIEWED. THE ROLE OF ETHIC, SOCIOECONOMIC, AND SOCIETAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIME ARE DISCUSSED AND SPECIFIC THEORIES SUCH AS SUBCULTURAL CAUSATION AND SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONISM ARE CRITIQUED. THE AUTHOR PRESENT HER ANALYSES CLEARLY AND IN LANGUAGE ADDRESSED TO PROFESSIONALS AND LAYMEN ALIKE. (SNI ABSTRACT)