INTERACTION OF CRIMINAL POLICY AND THE STATE OF CRIME (FROM CRIMINOLOGY BETWEEN THE RULE OF LAW AND THE OUTLAWS, 1976, BY C W G JASPERSE, K A V LEEUWEN-BUROW & L G TOORNVLIET - SEE NCJ-38200)

• NCJ Number: 38203
• Author(s): K O CHRISTIANSEN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Kluwer Bv
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

BASED LARGELY ON SCANDIANAVIAN EXPERIENCES, THIS ARTICLE TRACES THE EFFECTS OF SUCH FACTORS AS CRIMINAL LEGISLATION, PATTERNS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PUNISHMENT ON THE TRENDS AND PATTERNS OF CRIMINALITY.

Abstract

NOTING THAT THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF PUNISHABLE BEHAVIOR DETERMINES TO A SUBSTANTIAL EXTENT THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME, THE AUTHOR REVIEWS THE VARIATIONS IN OFFENSE RATES WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED FROM CRIMINALIZATION OR DECRIMINALIZATION OF VARIOUS OFFENSES. HE ALSO DETAILS THE EFFECT OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY WAR SITUATIONS. CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES ARE ALSO SEEN TO HAVE A CONSIDERABLE EFFECT ON THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME. THE AUTHOR EXAMINES ENFORCEMENT DIFFERENCES BROUGHT ABOUT BY SUCH CONDITIONS AS CORRUPTION, WAR, AND CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION TO DEMONSTRATE THAT CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BRING ABOUT CHANGES IN THE STATE OF CRIME. IN THE FINAL SECTIONS OF THIS PAPER, THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE LITERATURE ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF CRIMINAL POLICY, POLITICS, AND CRIME.