NCJ Number
46277
Date Published
1978
Length
365 pages
Annotation
THE INDIVIDUAL AS CRIMINAL MAN IS EXAMINED FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF HISTORY, SCIENCE, SOCIETY, AND LAW; AND BOTH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CAUSES FOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE DEFINITION OF LAW AND CRIME CHANGE OVER TIME AND VARY FROM SOCIETY TO SOCIETY. FOR MARXISTS, THE ECONOMY, CLASS CONFLICTS, AND IDEOLOGY OF THE DOMINANT CLASS DEFINE BOTH WHAT IS LAW AND WHAT IS CRIME. BY THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY, DARWINIST ANTHROPOLOGY HAD RAISED THE QUESTION OF RACIAL INFERIORITY OR SUPREMACY AS A CAUSE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND THE POSITIVIST REVOLUTION HAD DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL AND INSANE. WITH THE RISE OF THE EMPIRICAL SCIENCES, FINER DISTINCTIONS BEGAN TO BE MADE AS TO THE CAUSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, E.G., SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION (IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, FAMILIAL NEGLECT) OR PHYSIOLOGICAL CAUSES (SUCH AS ALCOHOL, CHROMOSOME IMBALANCE, PSYCHOPATHIC AGGRESSION, OR BRAIN DAMAGE). SUCH DISTINCTIONS RAISE SERIOUS QUESTIONS AS TO THE TREATMENT OF THE CRIMINAL AND THE END OF LAW. IS SOCIETY OR THE INDIVIDUAL AT FAULT? SHOULD THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME OR SHOULD THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIMINAL? THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE POINT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS NOT THE PREVENTION, CURE, OR ABOLITION OF CRIME; IT IS JUSTICE ITSELF, AND THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE CYCLICAL NATURE OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF THEORIES LEADS TO THE TAKING OF POSITIONS RATHER THAN THE SOLVING OF PROBLEMS. (BAC)