NCJ Number
19152
Date Published
1974
Length
78 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BURGLARS AND FENCES WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT MORE STRINGENT ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS AGAINST RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BURLGARIES.
Abstract
A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO CONVICTED BURGLARS IN AN ARIZONA STATE PRISON AND IN PHOENIX COUNTY JAILS. RESULTS INDICATE THAT ONE MAJOR FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE FENCE'S BEING IGNORED IS THAT MOST CITIES LACK BUDGET MONIES TO FERRET HIM OUT. BECAUSE HE IS AN UNSEEN FIGURE DEALING SECRETLY WITH WILLING PARTICIPANTS, HIS IDENTIFICATION IS MORE DIFFICULT THAT A MORE VISIBLE CRIMINAL, THE BURGLAR, WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO BE SEEN COMMITTING THE CRIME BY THE VICTIM, THE VICTIM'S NEIGHBORS, OR THE POLICE AND WHO LEAVES THE VICTIM CALMORING FOR JUSTICE. A SECOND OBSTACLE, PROVING GUILTY KNOWLEDGE, MUST BE OVERCOME BEFORE A FENCE CAN BE CONVICTED. THE CASE STUDY PRESENTED SHOWS THAT EVEN WHEN A FENCE IS CAUGHT 'RED-HANDED,' IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET A HEAVY PUNITIVE SENTENCE OR EVEN A CONVICTION WHICH COULD ACT AS A DETERRENT FOR BOTH THIS FENCE AND FOR OTHER FENCES. THUS, SOCIETY IS FACED WITH A TWO-FOLD PROBLEM THE IDENTIFICATION AND CONVICTION OF THE FENCE. SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE DOUBLE PROBLEM MAY BE FOUND BY CHANGING LAWS, ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES, ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTIVES, AND ESPECIALLY BY CHANGING THE PUBLIC'S APATHY TOWARD THIS CRIMINAL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)