NCJ Number
14277
Date Published
1971
Length
240 pages
Annotation
THE DEFINITION, CHARACTER, INTENT, AND REFORM OF PENAL PUNISHMENT IS DISCUSSED BY AUTHORITIES IN THE FIELDS OF LAW, PENOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, EDUCATION, PHILOSOPHY, AND RELIGION.
Abstract
THE NEED TO STRUCTURE CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS OF FUNDAMENTAL NORMS FOR SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ANTHOLOGY. THE NEED FOR STRUCTURING HUMANE WAYS OF CONTROLLING AND POSSIBLY REVISING DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IS CONSIDERED THE PRINCIPAL CHALLENGE OF PENOLOGY. PUNISHMENT AS AN EXPRESSION OF VENGEANCE AND HATE IS GENERALLY DECRIED AS A PROCESS THAT NURTURES HATE IN THE OFFENDER, THUS INTENSIFYING HIS REACTION TO SOCIETAL CONTROL STRUCTURES. HUMANE PUNISHMENT IS SEEN BY SOME CONTRIBUTORS AS AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF JUSTICE IN THE SOCIAL ORDER, WITHOUT WHICH CYNICISM AND DESPAIR WILL PREVAIL. THE TENSION BETWEEN CONCERN FOR THE VICTIMS OF VIOLATERS AND THE PROVISION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE OFFENDER TO FIND A CREATIVE PATTERN SUITABLE TO HIS INDIVIDUALITY IS FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED.