NCJ Number
62026
Journal
TEXAS JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS Volume: 5 Issue: 4, Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1979) Pages: 24-29
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE VIEWPOINT IS PRESENTED THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS CAN BEST SERVE SOCIETY IF CREATIVITY AND TREND PREDICTION ARE EMPLOYED; SOCIAL FORCES WHICH WILL INFLUENCE CRIME OF THE FUTURE ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
TO UNDERSTAND CRIME IN THE YEAR 2000, IT IS HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GREEKS DID CENTURIES AGO. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH POPULATION EXPLOSION AND LAND SHORTAGE, THE ATHENIANS EMPLOYED CREATIVE CONCEPTS AND CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS TO ACHIEVE SOLUTIONS. IN CONTRAST, THE CORINTHIANS CLUNG TO PRESENT STRATEGIES, WHICH HAD BECOME INEFFECTIVE FOR THE CHANGING NATURE OF THE TIMES, AND THE SPARTANS ADVOCATED RETURN TO THE PAST. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM COULD BENEFIT FROM CONCEPTUALIZING THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL TRENDS ON THE FUTURE OF CRIME, AS THE SUCCESSFUL ATHENIAN APPROACH WOULD DICTATE. THE PROPORTION OF CRIME BY YOUTH IS DWINDLING AS THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOCIETY DECLINES. THE PERCEPTION OF THE DRUG PROBLEM HAS SOFTENED, AND DECRIMINALIZATION IS SEEN BY MANY AS THE INTELLIGENT SOLUTION. THE BABY BOOM GENERATION WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR MUCH OF THE DRUG PROBLEM FACES SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES WHICH WILL POSSIBLY BE MANIFESTED IN OTHER FORMS OF CRIME IN THE FUTURE. WITH RAMPANT INFLATION, THE COST OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS DREAM INCREASES. TRADITIONALLY LAW ABIDING CITIZENS MAY TURN INCREASINGLY TO ILLEGITIMATE MEANS OF ACQUIRING CONSUMER GOODS, SUCH AS FENCING. AS THE COST OF COMMUTING EXCEEDS THE COST OF MAINTAINING SUITABLE HOUSING IN THE SUBURBS, RENOVATION OF INNER CITY RESIDENCES WILL BECOME A LIKELY ALTERNATIVE. DISPLACEMENT OF THE INNER CITY POOR COULD RESULT, AND THE VIOLENCE OF THE 1960'S REPEATED. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CAN ALSO CREATE PROBLEMS. COMPUTERS CAN EASILY BE PROGRAMMED TO DIVERT ELECTRONICALLY VAST SUMS OF MONEY WITH FAR GREATER REPERCUSSIONS THAN PREVIOUS THEFTS. WITH WOMEN ENTERING THE LABOR MARKET IN INCREASING NUMBERS, INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS AND DAY CARE CENTERS WILL INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN TO A GREATER EXTENT. SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITIES MUST ALSO BE REFLECTED IN FAMILY CODES AND JUVENILE LAWS. LACK OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT REMAINS AN UNRESOLVED FACTOR IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE FUTURE SOCIETAL TRENDS AND TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS WILL RESULT IN CONTINUING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT WHICH DO NOT ADDRESS TOMORROW'S CHALLENGES. NOTES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)