NCJ Number
44837
Date Published
1977
Length
232 pages
Annotation
THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINAL TYPOLOGIES ARE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH MAJOR EXISTING TYPOLOGIES IN CRIME AND DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
A CRIMINAL TYPOLOGY OFFERS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING GENERAL SUMMARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING OBSERVED FACTS ABOUT A PARTICULAR CLASS OF CRIMINALS WHO ARE SUFFICIENTLY HOMOGENEOUS TO BE TREATED AS A TYPE,RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO STUDY CRIMINALS AS A SINGLE SPECIES. MOST TYPOLOGIES OF CRIMINALS AND DELINQUENTS ARE BASED ON AGE, SEX, CURRENT OFFENSE, PERSONALITY TYPE, AND SOCIAL CLASS. TYPOLOGIES OF OFFENSES HAVE BEEN BASED ON MOTIVE, NORM VIOLATED, CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACT, RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VICTIM, AND FREQUENCY OF BEHAVIOR. THOSE FACTORS MOST OFTEN USED IN TYPOLOGIES OF CRIMINALS ARE: (1) THE TYPE-DISTINCTION, SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL AND SOCIAL CRIMINALS; (2) THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH OFFENSES ARE COMMITTED -OCCASIONAL, ONCE ONLY, PERSISTENT, OR HABITUAL; AND (3) TYPOLOGY BASED ON MOTIVATION. THE THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS WHICH ARE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF TYPOLOGIES; TREATMENT TYPOLOGIES; OFFENDER TYPES; TYPOLOGIES AND CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES; AND PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS OF TYPOLOGIES. VARIOUS TYPOLOGICAL APPROACHES -- LEGALISTIC, PHYSICAL-CONSTITUTIONALHEREDITY, PSYCHOLOGICAL-PSYCHIATRIC, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND INDIVIDUALISTIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL -- ARE OUTLINED. SEVERAL CONTEMPORARY TYPOLOGIES ARE SYNOPSIZED. THE SECTION ON MAJOR TYPOLOGIES IS DIVIDED INTO PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOANALYTICAL, FOLLOWED BY SOCIOLOGICAL TYPOLOGIES. THE DESCRIPTION OF EACH CONAINS A BIOGRAPHY OF THE THEORIST, A SUMMARY OF THE CATEGORIES INCLUDED IN THE TYPOLOGY, AN ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION, THE AUTHOR'S CRITICISMS AND CONCLUSIONS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. A FINAL CHAPTER CONSIDERS THE APPLICATION OF TYPOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE CONTROL OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY A LIST OF REFERENCE IS PROVIDED. (VDA)