MAINSTREAM CRIMINOLOGY - MORE NEW THAN OLD

• NCJ Number: 62630
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 323-329
• Author(s): W V PELFREY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-NI-AX-0050
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXPLORES THE TENDENCY OF ACADEMIC CRIMINOLOGY AND OTHER CRIME RELATED AREAS TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THE NEW CRIMINOLOGY AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

Abstract

A TOTAL OF 761 PERSONS BELIEVED TO BE ACADEMICIANS WITHIN THE CRIME-RELATED DISCIPLINE MADE UP THE RANDOM SAMPLE AND WERE GIVEN A QUESTIONNAIRE. ALTHOUGH MANY SPECIFIC AREAS WERE EXAMINED, THE CORE OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE RESPONDENT'S GENERAL IMPRESSIONS AND TENDENCIES CONCERNING THE NEW CRIMINOLOGY--A PERSPECTIVE WHICH INCLUDE RADICAL, CRITICAL AND POWER/CONFLICT, CRIMINOLOGY AND THE MARXIAN THEORY OF CRIMINALITY. OVER 80 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT THE NEW CRIMINOLOGY AS A PERSPECTIVE HAD DEFINITE POTENTIAL AND OVER 57 PERCENT SAW THE NEW CRIMINOLOGY AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL CRIMINOLOGY. RESULTS THEREFORE CONFIRMED THAT MAINSTREAM CRIMINOLOGY HAS SLIPPED ITS TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES AND THE NEW CRIMINOLOGY IS GAINING ACCEPTANCE. REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)