METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CLASSIFICATION IN CRIMINOLOGY - REPORTS PRESENTED AT THE 10TH CONFERENCE OF DIRECTORS OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES, 1972

• NCJ Number: 12996
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 76 pages
• Corporate Author: Place Broglie
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: France
• Note: COLLECTED STUDIES IN CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, V 10

Annotation

TWO PAPERS DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AND PROPOSE SPECIFIC AREAS OF NEEDED EMPHASIS.

Abstract

THE INTRODUCTORY PAPER CRITICIZES EXISTING SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION FOR USING IMPRECISELY DEFINED TERMS, VAGUE LOGICAL STRUCTURE, AND FOR BEING RELATIVELY UNSPECIFIC AND THEREFORE IRRELEVANT. THE AUTHOR ANALYZES ROBERT K. MERTON'S MODES OF INDIVIDUAL ADAPTATION, FINDS THEM GUILTY OF THE ABOVE DEFICIENCIES, AND EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR GREATER WORK IN THE FORMULATION OF EMPIRICAL THEORIES WHICH EXPLAIN THE ORIGIN AND EFFECTS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN MERELY CLASSIFY OFFENDERS. THE AUTHOR OF THE SECOND PAPER EXAMINES NECESSARY METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR THREE DISTINCT PURPOSES - CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY, PENAL MANAGEMENT, AND REFORMATIVE TREATMENT. HE URGES COGNIZANCE OF THE FACT THAT NO SYSTEMS OR METHODS ARE ALL-INCLUSIVE AND THAT THE INFINITE INDIVIDUALITY OF HUMAN BEINGS MUST BE DEALT WITH.