NCJ Number
12126
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1973) Pages: 394-405
Date Published
1973
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE OF CHANGE IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH SOCIAL RESEARCH AND THEORY HAVE INFLUENCED THESE CHANGES.
Abstract
IN ORDER TO EXAMINE THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN BRINGING ABOUT CHANGES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND THE ROLES OF SOCIOLOGISTS AND CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE CHANGES, THE AUTHOR COMMENCES WITH A SUMMARY OF JUDICIAL DECISIONS WHICH, IN EFFECT, EXPAND OFFENDER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. FOLLOWING THIS REVIEW, SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND THEORIES OF DELINQUENCY CAUSATION ARE PRESENTED. ACCORDING TO THIS PAPER, MUCH OF THE RESEARCH THAT HAS ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IS, INSTEAD, DESCRIPTIVE. ALTHOUGH SOCIAL THEORY HAS GAINED LIMITED ACCEPTANCE IN CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION, SOCIOLOGISTS ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP REALISTIC RESEARCH PATTERNS, STRESSING SOCIAL ACTION AND SOCIAL THEORY, WHICH MAY BE BENEFICIAL TO THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)