DEFENDERS OF ORDER OR GUARDIANS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

• NCJ Number: 6176
• Journal: ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1970) Pages: 123-157
• Author(s): H SCHWENDINGER; J SCHWENDINGER
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 34 pages
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SUGGESTIONS FOR A REDEFINITION OF CRIME TO INCLUDE ALL BEHAVIOR IN VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ORDER TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF CRIME AS BEHAVIOR DEFINED AND PUNISHED BY LEGAL CODES UNDULY RESTRICTS SOCIAL SCIENTISTS' INVESTIGATIONS. THEY BRIEFLY REVIEW SEVERAL APPROACHES TO THE DEFINITION OF CRIME AND NOTE THAT IDENTIFYING SOME ACTS AS CRIMINAL DOES NOT NECESSARILY ISOLATE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR PERPETRATORS. SINCE CRIMINOLOGY STUDIES BOTH THE ACT AND THE ACTOR, THE CRIMINOLOGISTS' OWN DEFINITION WOULD BE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE THAN BORROWED ONES. THEY PROPOSE A BROAD DEFINITION OF CRIME WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE VALUE JUDGMENT THAT ALL ACTIVITY WHICH RESTRICTS HUMAN RIGHTS IS CRIMINAL.