NCJ Number
16145
Journal
Judicature Volume: 57 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1973) Pages: 69-78
Date Published
1973
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE IMPACT AND NATURE OF SUCH VICTIMLESS CRIMES AS VAGRANCY, GAMBLING, DRUNKENESS, JUVENILE STATUS OFFENSES, DRUG USE, AND SEXUAL DEVIANCY ARE DISCUSSED AND SUGGESTIONS FOR DECRIMINALIZATION OF THESE ACTS ARE MADE.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR STATES THAT VICTIMLESS CRIMES - ACTS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY OUTSIDE THE LAW BUT WHICH HAVE NO READILY IDENTIFIABLE VICTIM - ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF OF THE CASES HANDLED BY THE UNITED STATES COURTS. A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE TYPES OF STATUTES AND LAWS APPLYING TO VICTIMLESS CRIMES IS PROVIDED. THE AUTHOR ALSO CITES SEVERAL SOURCES WHICH SUPPORT THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF THESE ACTS. HE ARGUES THAT THE DELAY IN PROVIDING JUSTICE IN OTHER CASES COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND MORE JUST TREATMENT COULD BE GIVEN TO THE PERPETRATORS OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES IF THESE KINDS OF BEHAVIOR WERE DECRIMINALIZED AND REMOVED FROM THE CRIMINAL COURTS TO OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES WHOSE UNDERLYING PURPOSE WOULD BE TO HELP, NOT TO PUNISH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)