NCJ Number
60796
Journal
Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 21-37
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
CHARACTERISTICS OF VAGRANTS ARE OUTLINED ON THE BASIS OF RECENT LITERATURE TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE STUDY OF INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR EMPLOYMENT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR IN WEST GERMANY SINCE THE PERIOD OF MASS UNEMPLOYMENT FROM 1973 TO 1974. VAGRANTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY INADEQUATE PRIMARY SOCIALIZATION USUALLY DUE TO EDUCATIONAL INSUFFICIENCIES LIVING CONDITIONS PREDOMINANT IN THE LOWER SOCIAL CLASSES DISTURBED FAMILIES, LACK OF ROLE MODELS, FAILURE OF PARENTS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT). AS A RESULT, SUCH INDIVIDUALS EXHIBIT PERSONALITY PROBLEMS (LIMITED IDENTITY, SELF CONTROL, COGNITIVE COMPETENCE, AND SENSE OF VALUE) AND ARE PLAGUED BY PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS OF THE LOWER CLASSES (I.E., POVERTY, INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE ALTERNATIVES, USE OF DEVIANT COMPENSATION POSSIBILITIES, FAMILY DISHARMONY, AND AN OVERDEVELOPED SENSE OF CONFLICT). VAGRANTS ARE LIKELY TO REACT WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AGGRESSION, OR DEVIANCE; AVOID ALL CONFLICTS AND RESPONSIBILITY; OR COMBINE SUCH MODES OF BEHAVIOR SO THAT A CRIMINAL CAREER OCCURS, WITH SECONDARY PROBLEMS AND DEVIANT ROLE MODELS. STIGMATIZED PERSONS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR SUCH CHANCE MISFORTUNES AS LAY-OFFS ARE MOST LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE OR TO RESORT TO VAGRANCY, WHICH BECOMES A WAY OF LIFE. INSTITUTIONAL THERAPY PROGRAMS HASTEN THE PROCESS, AS THEY OFFER NO PROSPECT OF REWARD. ASSISTANCE TO VAGRANTS MUST INVOLVE SCREENING CLIENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT FIRST-TIME VAGRANTS ARE GIVEN COUNSELING FOR INITAL PROBLEMS (E.G., ALCOHOLISM) TO AVOID THE SECONDARY PROBLEMS OF CHRONIC TREATMENT AND MUST PROVIDE DIFFERENT FORMS OF HELP ACCORDING TO THE SITUATION, INCLUDING SERVICES IN INSTITUTIONS NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR VAGRANTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING ON ETIOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH INTERVIEWS, RESEARCH CONSIDER THE EFFECTS AND GOALS OF INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE USING ALTERNATIVE METHODS SUCH AS OBSERVATION, GROUP DISCUSSIONS, AND FIELD EXPERIMENTS. NOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)