ACTORS, ACTIONS, AND DETERRENCE - A REFORMULATION OF CHAMBLISS'S TYPOLOGY OF DETERRENCE (FROM TREATING THE OFFENDER - PROBLEMS AND ISSUES, 1977, BY MARC RIEDEL AND PEDRO A VALES - SEE NCJ-46790)

• NCJ Number: 46792
• Author(s): C W THOMAS; J S WILLIAMS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0031
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers; American Soc of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A MODIFICATION OF W.J. CHAMBLISS' MODEL OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INSTRUMENTAL AND EXPRESSIVE CRIMINAL ACTS AND LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IS PROPOSED.

Abstract

CHAMBLISS CONCLUDED THAT TYPES OF ACTORS AND BEHAVIORS MUST BE CONSIDERED IN THE SPECIFICATION OF THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SANCTIONS CAN BE EXPECTED TO SERVE A DETERRENT FUNCTION. CHAMBLISS DREW DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN EXPRESSIVE AND INSTRUMENTAL OFFENSES AND BETWEEN OFFENDERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO CRIME AS A WAY OF LIFE AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT, CONCLUDING THAT DETERRENCE IS MOST LIKELY FOR LOW COMMITMENT-INSTRUMENTAL AND HIGH COMMITMENT-INSTRUMENTAL OFFENSES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CHAMBLISS ASSIGNED UNDUE IMPORTANCE TO COMMITMENT TO CRIMINAL CAREERS AND THAT HIS MODEL WOULD BE MORE USEFUL IF THE NOTION OF COMMITMENT TOOK AS ITS EMPIRICAL REFERENT THE AFFECTIVE LINK BETWEEN THE ACTOR AND HIS ACT, THE PRIORITY OF A GIVEN ACT TO THE ACTOR RELATIVE TO HIS ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ACTOR'S CONCEPTION OF SELF AND THE ACT. THUS REVISED, THE MODEL REFLECTS THE HYPOTHESIS THAT INSTRUMENTAL ACTS TEND TO IMPLY LOW LEVELS OF COMMITMENT, WHEREAS EXPRESSIVE ACTS IMPLY HIGHER LEVELS OF COMMITMENT. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION IS PRESENTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)