NCJ Number
60228
Journal
Deviance et societe Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 87-93
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE CONCERNING THE THEORETICAL PREMISES OF MODERN CRIMINOLOGY, ITS FIELDS OF RESEARCH, AND ITS RELATIONS TO CRIMINAL POLICY.
Abstract
UNLIKE CRIMINAL LAW, MODERN CRIMINOLOGY DEFINES 'CRIME' AS AN AGGRESSION OF A GROUP AGAINST THE VALUES ACCEPTED BY THAT GROUP. CRIMINOLOGY DOES NOT DEAL WITH OFFENSES AGAINST VALUES WHICH VARY THROUGHOUT CRIMINAL HISTORY (E.G., OFFENSES AGAINST SEXUAL MORALS, VICTIMLESS CRIME). AT THE CENTER OF CRIMINOLOGY IS THE PERSONALITY OF THE OFFENDER. FOR HEURISTIC REASONS IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE OFFENDER'S PERSONALITY IS BASICALLY EGOCENTRIC, UNSTABLE, AND AGGRESSIVE AND THAT ALL OTHER PERSONAL TRAITS MERELY INFLUENCE THE ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE OFFENSE (E.G., MOTIVATION, MODE OF PERPETRATION). WITH REGARD TO RESEARCH, CRIMINOLOGY IS DIVIDED INTO TWO DIFFERENT AREAS. FIRST, 'PURE CRIMINOLOGY' DEALS WITH THE GENESIS AND DYNAMICS OF CRIME ITSELF. HERE RESEARCH IS NEEDED IN FOUR AREAS: (1) PREDETERMINATION OF THE CRIME (MENTAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND DRUG INDUCED ABNORMALITIES), (2) THE CRIMINAL PERSONALITY (PERSONAL HISTORY, BIOLOGICAL FACTORS), (3) THE CRIMINAL ACT ITSELF (CASE STUDIES), AND (4) THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIETY AS A WHOLE (FACTORS IN A GIVEN SOCIETY WHICH ENCOURAGE PARTICULAR PERSONALITY TRAITS). SECOND 'SOCIAL CRIMINOLOGY' APPROACHES SOCIAL PROBLEMS FROM A CRIMINAL POINT OF VIEW WHICH ARE USUALLY STUDIED IN TERMS OF SOCIAL HYGIENE (ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ABUSE, VAGRANCY) AND OF POLITICAL SCIENCE (TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, TAX FRAUD). RELATIONS BETWEEN CRIMINAL POLICY AND CRIMINOLOGY EXIST IN THREE AREAS: THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (LABELING PROCESS, STEREOTYPING), THE TREATMENT OF DELINQUENTS (EMPIRICAL STUDIES), AND CRIME PREVENTION. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS NO REFERENCES. --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)