NCJ Number
28456
Date Published
Unknown
Length
54 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION OF THE INCREASE IN CRIME IN WESTERN COUNTRIES, AND PARTICULARLY IN NORWAY, WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS REGARDING POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THIS PHENOMENON.
Abstract
AT PRESENT, CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY SEEM TO BE INCREASING ALTHOUGH THE ECONOMY IS PROPEROUS. FORMERLY, PROPERTY CRIMES TENDED TO INCREASE WHEN TIMES WERE BAD. HOWEVER, IN AN AFFLUENT INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY THE VICTIM PROBABLY DOES NOT SUFFER AS BADLY FROM SUCH CRIMES AS HE DID IN A PRIMITIVE SOCIETY. THERE ALSO IS PROBABLY A TENDENCY FOR CRIME TO INCREASE AFTER A WAR. THE YOUNG MEN WHO HAD TO FIGHT, IN MANY CASES, FEEL REBELLIOUS AT HAVING BEEN REQUIRED TO SERVE, AND A GOOD MANY OF THEM TURN TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE NAPOLEONIC WARS, WHEN CRIME IN EUROPE ROSE FROM 1835 TO 1852. IT MAY BE THAT INCREASED CRIME IS THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR HAVING AN ADVANCED CAPITALIST SOCIETY, FOR THE DESIRE FOR POSSESSIONS MAY LEAD THOSE WITHOUT POSSESSIONS TO CRIME. --IN NORWEGIAN