NCJ Number
2255
Date Published
1970
Length
26 pages
Annotation
MYTHS OF CRIME CAUSATION AND ITS CURE ARE DISCUSSED FROM THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF PLATO AND MODERN REACTIONS TO CRIME PREVENTION.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR FEELS THAT THE PROBLEMS FACED BY PLATO ARE NOT UNCOMMON TO THE PROBLEMS WHICH WE FACE TODAY WITH REGARD TO COMMON HELP ASSUMPTIONS OF ACHIEVING A CRIME CONTROL MODEL, WHICH INVOLVES A PUBLIC DEMAND FOR SIMPLISTIC ANSWERS TO CRIME CONTROL AND A CRIME FREE SOCIETY. THE SAFE STREETS ACT IS CITED AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS SIMPLISTIC APPROACH AND RELATED TO ISSUES INVOLVED IN PLATO'S REPUBLIC. THE INABILITY TO PERPETUATE THIS MYTH EFFECTIVELY IN AN OPEN SOCIETY IS DISCUSSED TOGETHER WITH ITS IMPLICATIONS.