NCJ Number
19265
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1975) Pages: 116-130
Date Published
1975
Length
15 pages
Annotation
IN SPITE OF ITS POPULARITY IN SCIENTIFIC AND CORRECTIONAL CIRCLES, THE MEDICAL MODEL OF DELINQUENCY IS OPEN TO QUESTION ON THEORETICAL, PRACTICAL, AND ETHICAL GROUNDS.
Abstract
THE MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE OBSCURES THE NATURE OF DELINQUENCY BY NEGLECTING THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT SOCIAL AUDIENCES PLAY IN DEFINING BEHAVIOR AS DELINQUENT OR NONDELINQUENT. IT HAS ALSO HAMPERED PREVENTIVE AND CORRECTIONAL EFFORTS BECAUSE OF THE UNDUE EMPHASIS GIVEN TO THE PROBLEMS OF INDIVIDUAL DELINQUENTS RATHER THAN THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH DELINQUENCY OCCURS. FINALLY, THE MEDICAL MODEL OF DELINQUENCY RAISES SERIOUS ETHICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF PREDELINQUENT CHILDREN, THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE, AND THE INDIVIDUALIZATION OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS - ALL OF WHICH HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN JUSTIFIED BY THE MEDICAL ANALOGY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)