NCJ Number
53605
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND PENOLOGY Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 307-317
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A CRITIQUE OF JOHN COURT'S ARGUMENTS AND CONCLUSIONS ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY AND SEX CRIME TRENDS AROUND THE WORLD IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE STATED INTENTION OF COURT IN HIS STUDY WAS TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE AVAILABILITY OF PORNOGRAPHY AND THE RATE OF SEX CRIMES IN COUNTRIES WHERE PORNOGRAPHY IS FREELY AVAILABLE AND IN SINGAPORE WHERE PORNOGRAPHY IS STRICTLY CONTROLLED. HE ARGUED THAT A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP CANNOT BE DEMONSTRATED BUT THAT THERE IS A CASE FOR A POSITIVE CORRELATION WITH SOME SIGNIFICANCE. THIS CRITIQUE OF COURT'S STUDY INDICATES THAT HIS ARGUMENTS AND CONCLUSIONS ARE INACCURATE, THAT STATISTICS ARE MISUSED AND MISINTERPRETED, AND THAT CONCLUSIONS ARE OFTEN OVERSTATED AND SOMETIMES INCORRECT. THEORETICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH COURT'S ANALYSIS OF PORNOGRAPHY AND SEX CRIME TRENDS IN DENMARK, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND SINGAPORE ARE RAISED. THE FACT THAT COURT DOES NOT APPEAR TO APPLY THE QUESTION OF POWER AND SEX CRIMES TO RELATIONS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IS VIEWED AS A FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC OF HIS WORK THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE STUDY'S THEORETICAL LIMITATIONS. GRAPHS AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)