NCJ Number
10609
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1973) Pages: 138144
Date Published
1973
Length
7 pages
Annotation
COMMENTS ON THE ECONOMIC APPROACH TO CRIMINOLOGY AND THE INFLUENCE OF THIS APPROACH ON ACADEMIC STUDY AND POLICY MAKING.
Abstract
IN CONTRAST TO TRADITIONAL THEORIES, ECONOMISTS MAINTAIN THAT CRIMINALS ARE RATIONAL AND NORMALLY CALCULATING PEOPLE MAXIMIZING THEIR PREFERENCES SUBJECT TO GIVEN CONSTRAINTS. DEVIANT INDIVIDUALS CALCULATE 'OPPORTUNITY COST' - THAT WHICH MUST BE SACRIFICED TO ACQUIRE SOMETHING ELSE. BY USING METHODS SUCH AS COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, SYSTEMS ANALYSIS, AND PROGRAM BUDGETING, ECONOMISTS ARE STRIVING TO DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR AN IMPROVED ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES, THE ECONOMISTS ASSUME THAT ALL DIVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE ONE GOAL THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY. ALL OTHER PRESUMED GOALS, SUCH AS DETERRENCE, REHABILITATION, PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT, AND THE LAW ITSELF, ARE TREATED AS ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING TOPICS - THEORETICAL WORKS, ECONOMIC VIEWS OF DETERRENCE, ECONOMETRIC STUDIES, EMPLOYMENT, WEALTH, AND CRIME, ORGANIZED CRIME AND DRUGS, POLICE PROBLEMS, COST-BENEFIT AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS, AND PROGRAM BUDGETING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)