NCJ Number
13281
Date Published
1974
Length
399 pages
Annotation
FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDE DESCRIPTIONS OF BEHAVIOR AND SUPPORT OR REFUTE EXISTING THEORIES.
Abstract
STREETWISE CRIMINOLOGY PRESENTS AN OBSERVATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH WRITINGS BY PARTICIPANTS IN THE SYSTEM, SUCH AS INMATES AND POLICE. THEY ALSO PROVIDE RESEARCH DATA SELDOM AVAILABLE, SUCH AS THAT OBTAINED FROM INDIVIDUALS DIVULGING CRIMINAL ACTS FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NOT BEEN APPREHENDED OR CONVICTED. SUCH DATA IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT OBTAINED FROM INCARCERATED OFFENDERS WHO ARE USUALLY THE SOURCE OF DATA FOR CRIME RELATED SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES. THE ARTICLES IN THIS READER WERE SELECTED FOR THEIR DESCRIPTIVE AND THEORETICAL VALUES, THEY DESCRIBE A BEHAVIOR OR SET OF BEHAVIORS, THEY INDICATE AN EXCEPTION TO AN EXISTING THEORY, OR THEY CONTAIN THE GERM OF A NEW THEORY. THREE MAIN THEMES NOTED IN THE ARTICLES ARE A) THAT EVERYONE IS CRIMINAL, B) CRIME IS LEARNED, AND C) THE RESPONSE TO A CRIMINAL OFFENSE DEPENDS NOT SO MUCH ON THE ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL COSTS OF THE CRIME BUT RATHER ON THE STATUS OF THE OFFENDER. THE LEARNING OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN SOCIAL GROUPS IS ANOTHER THEME FOUND IN SEVERAL OF THE ARTICLES. A SECTION OF THE BOOK IS DEVOTED TO OVERLEGISLATION OR THE CREATION OF UNNECESSARY LAWS, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVING VICTIMLESS CRIMES, SUCH AS DRUG USE, HOMOSEXUALITY, AND ADULTERY. OTHER ARTICLES DISCUSS RACIAL VIOLENCE, CAMPUS VIOLENCE, AND NUMEROUS CORRECTIONAL CONCERNS SUCH AS PRISIONERS' RIGHTS AND REHABILITATION. THE ARTICLES APPEAR IN THE FORM OF LETTERS, ESSAYS, POEMS, AND INTERVIEWS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)