NCJ Number
60636
Date Published
1979
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE CONTROL OF CRIME ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS BRITISH PAPER.
Abstract
SINCE GREAT BRITAIN'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ALREADY COMPRISES LOCAL AND CENTRAL FEATURES, THE RESOURCES OF BOTH LEVELS SHOULD BE TAPPED, ALONG WITH THEIR CORRESPONDING RESERVOIRS OF POWER AND INFLUENCE. TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF RISING CRIME, CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS CAN ENCOURAGE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY IN CRIME CONTROL. CURRENTLY, THE RESEARCH PROGRAM OF THE HOME OFFICE RESEARCH UNIT COMPRISES FOUR TYPES OF INQUIRY: (1) HISTORICAL STUDIES CONCERNED WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN PENAL POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, (2) REVIEWS OF CURRENT RESEARCH AND LITERATURE, (3) DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES MONITORING SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND (4) EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS TO TEST NEW OPTIONS OR PROCEDURES. ANY RESEARCH PROGRAM TO STUDY CRIME AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD CONSIST OF AT LEAST THE FIRST TWO OF THESE TYPES OF INQUIRIES. ASSUMING THAT A SUITABLE RESEARCH PROGRAM COULD BE DEVISED TO ENHANCE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE CONTROL OF CRIME, SUCH A PROGRAM SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PUBLIC TOLERANCE OF CRIME AND THE POSSIBLE CONFLICTS ABOUT OBJECTIVES BETWEEN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE CENTRAL AUTHORITY. SOME ADAPTATION OF RESEARCH STRATEGIES MAY BE A PREREQUISITE FOR ACHIEVING AN OBJECTIVE SUFFICIENTLY BROAD TO ENCOMPASS THE LOCAL CITIZENS' AND CENTRAL AUTHORITIES' REQUIREMENTS. MEANWHILE, EXPERIMENTATION IN CRIME CONTROL AIMED AT INVOLVING THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN SHOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED. NOTES AND A LIST OF RESEARCH STUDIES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)