NCJ Number
16806
Journal
New York Times Magazine Dated: (MARCH 9, 1975) Pages: 11,44-48
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT EFFORTS TO CURB AND/OR UNDERSTAND THE INCREASING CRIME RATE HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY OPTIMISTIC AND UNREALISTIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HUMAN NATURE.
Abstract
HE ARGUES THAT THOSE CONDITIONS WHICH CAN REASONABLY BE CHANGED SHOULD BE DEALT WITH, WHILE THOSE WHICH CANNOT SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AS SUCH AND ABANDONED. THE 'ATTACK POVERTY' AND 'ATTACK UNEMPLOYMENT' APPROACHES TO REDUCING CRIME ARE CRITICIZED, ALONG WITH THE 'MORAL BREAKDOWN OF SOCIETY AND FAMILY' THEORY OF CRIME. ALSO EXAMINED IS THE STIGMATIZING EFFECT OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A DETERRENT TO CRIME. SUGGESTED CRIME PREVENTION AND DETERRENCE MEASURES INCLUDE A MINIMUM THREE-YEAR SENTENCE FOR PERSONS CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES, A DE-EMPHASIS ON INSTITUTIONALIZING JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS, AND HARSHER TREATMENT FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES BY STATING THAT WE SHOULD TEST OUR THEORIES ABOUT CRIME DETERRENCE AND PREVENTION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS, INSTEAD OF FUNDING IDEAS THAT WE BELIEVE 'OUGHT' TO WORK.