NCJ Number
14174
Date Published
1973
Length
337 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF THE DEBT-COLLECTION PROCESS IN ENGLAND WHEN DEBTOR IMPRISONMENT EXISTED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE DYNAMICS OF SOCIAL CONTROL AND ITS EFFECT ON THE SELF IMAGE OF THE DEBTOR.
Abstract
THE MAJOR STAGES OF PROCESSING AGAINST A DEFAULTER ARE EXAMINED, FROM THE INITIATING ACTION BY HIS CREDITORS AND THE WORK OF THE DEBT COLLECTOR, THROUGH THE VARIOUS PROCESSES OF THE LAW, OFTEN TO A PERIOD OF IMPRISONMENT. DEBT COLLECTING IS VIEWED AS A RELATIVELY PRIVATE FORM OF SOCIAL CONTROL WITH A MINIMUM OF FORMAL RITUAL THAT WOULD IMPUTE GUILT AND A STATUS OF DEVIANCE TO THE OFFENDER. IT IS CONSIDERED, THEREFORE, THAT A SELF IMAGE OF SOCIAL WORTH WOULD NOT BE RADICALLY UNDERMINED OR INTENSIFIED IN THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.