Ritual Crime: Anthropological Considerations and Contributions to a New Field of Study

• NCJ Number: 221549
• Journal: Acta Criminologica Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 119-137
• Author(s): T. S. Petrus
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: To access the full text PDF: 1) select the provided link; 2) from the Acta Criminologica Web site, select "Table of Contents"; 3) select the corresponding Volume and Issue (see the NCJRS abstract record for the exact Volume and Issue); 4) scroll the Table of Contents to the exact article; and 5) click on the "full text" icon Downloaded on February 13, 2008.

Annotation

This paper examines the knowledge of anthropology in the assistance of law enforcement officers and policymakers to obtain a more informed perspective on the issue of ritual crime and how to deal with it.

Abstract

The investigation of ritual crime has a great deal of potential for the discipline of anthropology because, as was indicated, there are various ways in which anthropologists can contribute to a greater understanding of ritual crime. Anthropological investigations into this phenomenon expose cross-cultural differences in ideas of rationalism, while they attempt to place the religious beliefs of communities in their specific contexts. This was found to be important, not only within the context of increased multiculturalism and religious pluralism, but it is also relevant within the context of legal and community development, where it becomes clear that local communities have their own systems of law and justice and procedures of how to deal with ritual crimes as defined by these communities. However, because these communities do not exist in isolation, it is also evident that legislation and policies on ritual crime have to be sensitive to and acknowledge the belief systems of these communities. Anthropologists need to acknowledge ritual crime’s existence as a reality. The Western criminal justice system is uncertain on how to handle ritual crimes. When murder and abuse become ritual murder and ritual abuse, the framework of legislation becomes less adequate and incapable of providing the necessary information to assist the justice system in defining, investigating, and prosecuting such crime, as well as the definition of crime itself becomes more complicated. This paper attempts to show that while the issue of ritual crime is controversial, the phenomenon does indeed exist and manifests itself in various ways. Its existence is a fact because it forms part of the religious beliefs of many communities. This paper argues that anthropology could possibly play an important role in initiating steps to provide knowledge that is necessary for a more informed and a more open-minded perspective on ritual crime. Biblography