PERCEPTION OF DEVIANCE AND CRIMINALITY - COLLECTED STUDIES IN CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, V 9

• NCJ Number: 10394
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 157 pages
• Corporate Author: Place Broglie
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: France
• Note: REPORTS PRESENTED TO 9TH CONFERENCE OF DIRECTORS OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, INSTITUTES, 1971

Annotation

SOCIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF DEVIANCE AND CRIMINALITY.

Abstract

THE FIRST OF THREE REPORTS IN THIS BOOK IS A SURVEY OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON SOCIOLOGICAL PERCEPTIONS. 'THE THEMES CONSIDERED ARE MAINLY THOSE DERIVED FROM THE PROBLEMS OF THE FUNCTIONING OF LAW IN MODERN SOCIETY, AND THOSE THAT ARE USUALLY CALLED THEORIES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. LEGAL NORMS ARE SEEN IN RELATION TO OTHER CONDUCT NORMS. THE AUTHOR CONCENTRATES ON KNOWLEDGE AND OPINION ABOUT LAW AND LEGAL TRANSGRESSIONS. THIS TOPIC IS SEEN IN RELATION TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE FUNCTIONING OF LAW IN SOCIETY - THE RELATION BETWEEN LAW ON THE ONE HAND AND THE WAY LAW AND CRIME ARE PERCEIVED BY THE PUBLIC, ON THE OTHER. LEGAL AND MORAL ATTITUDES, AS WELL AS THEIR RELATION TO LEGAL BEHAVIOUR, ARE ALSO TOUCHED UPON.' ANOTHER ISSUE DEALT WITH IS THE VARIOUS FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PERCEPTION OF CRIME, INCLUDING CULTURAL, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES WITH A DISCUSSION ON CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARDS CRIME, AND THE PERCEPTION OF DEVIANTS AND CRIMINALS. THE SECOND SELECTION, TITLED CLINICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERCEPTIONS OF DEVIANCE, INVOLVES A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION OF THE RULES WHICH CLINICIANS APPLY IN DEFINING THEIR DOMAIN OF DEVIANCE, AND THE RULES FOR DEFINING CRIMINALITY WHICH ARE USED BY CRIMINAL LAW. IN THIS REPORT, THE PREMISE IS THAT CLINICAL AND LEGAL PERCEPTIONS OF MAN ARE CONSISTENT. THE FINAL PAPER CONCERNS THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE PERCEPTION OF DEVIANCE AND CRIMINALITY. IT DEALS WITH PERCEPTION AT THE SOCIAL, LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL, AND PENAL LEVEL. ALSO NOTED IS THE USEFULNESS OF EXAMING TRANSCULTURAL FACTORS. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT 'COMPARISON OF DEVIANCE AND CRIMINALITY CASTS DOUBT ON THE WHOLE PRINCIPLE OF PUNISHMENT BASED ON THE OPPRESSIVE METAPHYSIC OF PRESUMED MORAL RESPONSIBILITY. A TRUE PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL PATHOLOGY REQUIRES THE SIMULTANEOUS INVOLVEMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, CRIMINOLOGY AND LAW, LIKE THE CONTINUOUS DIALECTIC BETWEEN LAW, JUSTICE AND PUBLIC OPINION.' (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)