ROGUES, REBELS, AND REFORMERS - A POLITICAL HISTORY OF URBAN CRIME AND CONFLICT

• NCJ Number: 37108
• Author(s): T R GURR; P N GRABOSKY; R C HULA; L H MASOTTI; D PEIRCE; L PERSSON; S SPERLINGS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 204 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING URBAN CRIME AND CIVIL DISORDER IN FOUR MAJOR CITIES, UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE THE REASONS FOR THE APPARENT FAILURE OF MODERN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

Abstract

THIS BOOK SETS OUT THE CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS AND COMPARATIVE CONCLUSIONS OF A HISTORICAL STUDY OF CRIME AND CONFLICT IN 4 OF THE WORLD'S PRINCIPAL CITIES BETWEEN 1800 AND THE PRESENT. USING 150 YEARS' DATA ON THE CRIMINAL LAWS, POLICE, COURTS, AND PRISONS OF LONDON, STOCKHOLM, SYDNEY, AND CALCUTTA, THE AUTHOR STUDIED THE EFFECTS ON PUBLIC ORDER OF REFORMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. HE REVIEWS THE RESULTS OF THOSE STUDIES. HIS FINDINGS STRONGLY INDICATE THAT (ALTHOUGH SPECIFIC INSTITUTIONS DIFFERED IN THE VARIOUS CITIES) SINCE THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY THE 3 WESTERN CITIES HAVE EXHIBITED SUCH SIMILAR PATTERNS IN THE RISE AND FALL OF RATES OF COMMON CRIME THAT PRESENT BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT DOES OR DOES NOT AFFECT THE INCIDENCE OR CRIME AND DISORDER MUST BE RADICALLY ALTERED. HE CONCLUDES THAT FOR MODERN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES, URBAN CRIME MAY BE ONE OF THE INEVITABLE PRICES PAID FOR FREEDOM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)