NCJ Number
47730
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A RESPONSE IS PROVIDED TO A PAPER DEALING WITH SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVES.
Abstract
THE PAPER ADDRESSED HERE DISCUSSED WHETHER THERE EXISTS ANY BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS CALLED 'SOCIAL SCIENCE' THAT CAN ASSIST SOCIETY IN PREVENTING CRIME OR RESPONDING TO IT MORE RATIONALLY. THE MAIN POINTS OF THE PAPER ARE SUMMARIZED: (1) GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE CLEAR OBJECTIVES WHICH ARE EFFICIENT AND DO NOT CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER, AND THOSE WHO INITIATE THE ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES SHOULD ENJOY OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTION; (2) MORAL VALUES GET IN THE WAY OF EFFICIENCY AND URGE US TO ACT ON EMOTIONS RATHER THAN UPON REASON; (3) SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ARE OFTEN HIRED BY GOVERNMENT NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DELINEATING WHAT WORKS BEST BUT RATHER IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY A PREFERRED COURSE OF ACTION; (4) GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT WILLING TO ENGAGE IN EVALUATION, BEING FEARFUL OF THE OUTCOME; AND (5) THERE IS NO SOCIAL SCIENCE THAT CAN UNDERWRITE A SOCIETAL ENGINEERING THAT WILL CHANGE PEOPLE ACCORDING TO PLAN. IN SUMMARY, THE PAPER SUGGESTS THAT WHILE SOCIAL SCIENTISTS HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO DESCRIBE, TO GATHER FACTS, AND TO EVALUATE, POLICYMAKERS ARE CONCERNED NOT ONLY WITH KNOWLEDGE, BUT WITH ACTION THAT IS BASED ON THAT KNOWLEDGE, AND ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE THE QUESTION OF MORALITY AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH MORALITY CAN MINIMIZE EFFICIENCY. IT IS NOTED THAT WHAT MAY CONSTITUTE THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY OF ACHIEVING THE GOAL OF CRIME PREVENTION IS NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST HUMANE WAY OR THE MOST ACCEPTABLE WAY TO THE PUBLIC TO WHOM THE POLICYMAKER IS RESPONSIBLE. THE OTHER FACTOR CONCERNS THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE, INCLUDING CRIMINALS AND LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, WHO REFUSE TO BE CHANGED ACCORDING TO ANYONE'S PLAN. AN EXAMPLE IS THE CONFLICT WHICH ARISES BETWEEN THE NEED FOR SOCIETY TO BE PROTECTED ON THE ONE HAND AND THE NEED TO LIMIT THE DEGREE OF INTERFERENCE WITH INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY ON THE OTHER. PERHAPS THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL THESE CONFLICTS TO DEAL WITH IS THE CONFLICT WITHIN THE MIND OF THE CITIZEN AS TO HOW OFFENDERS SHOULD BE TREATED. BY WAY OF SUMMARY, IT IS NOTED THAT THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS PLAGUING MANY FACETS OF SOCIETY AND THAT WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS PEOPLE LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS; BUT IN SOME AREAS THERE ARE NO SOLUTIONS, THERE ARE ONLY SETTLEMENTS. SOCIETY SHOULD STOP BEING TOO CRITICAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENTIST OR OF THE POLICYMAKERS. THESE TWO GROUPS OF PROFESSIONALS SHOULD TRY TO SETTLE ON WHAT THEY CAN SETTLE AMONG THEMSELVES. FOR THE ORIGINAL PAPER SEE NCJ-32553. (KBL)