NCJ Number
50003
Journal
CRIME ET/AND JUSTICE Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1977) Pages: 245-254
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
CRIME, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND CRIMINOLOGY IN SOCIALIST COUNTRIES ARE REVIEWED, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS.
Abstract
MARXIST-LENINIST THEORIES ON CRIME AND CRIME CONTROL ARE DISCUSSED INCLUDING THE WRITINGS OF MARX AND ENGELS, RADICAL AND MARXIST CRIMINOLOGY IN CAPITALIST COUNTRIES, AND THE LENINIST VIEW OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES IN CRIME CONTROL. THE RADICAL NEW SOCIAL ORDER ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION REPLACED THE TSARIST SYSTEM OF JUSTICE WITH ONE INVOLVING THE POPULATION IN CRIME PREVENTION AND ADJUDICATION PLACING POWER IN THE HANDS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES. CRIME IN THE SOVIET UNION GENERALLY FALLS INTO ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES; GENERAL CRIMINALITY (CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS AND PROPERTY) AND OFFENSES AGAINST THE VALUES OF SOVIET SOCIETY. THE WIDE RANGE OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL SERVES TO STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC'S COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE RATHER THAN TO REHABILITATE THE OFFENDER. THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM EMPHASIZES PRODUCTIVE WORK IN ITS INSTITUTIONS; PRISONS ARE EXPECTED TO FULFILL THEIR QUOTA ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC PLAN, AND PRISONERS ARE VIEWED AGAINST ECONOMIC RESOURCE. THE HISTORY OF CRIMINOLOGY IN THE SOVIET UNION IS TRACED, AND AN OVERVIEW IS PROVIDED OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH EMPHASIZING THE SOCIETAL ROLE. THE MAJOR TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF CRIME IN THE SOCIALIST COUNTRIES INVOLVE THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH, AND THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN CRIMINOLOGY IN THE SOVIET UNION AND THE UNITED STATES ARE POINTED OUT. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)