NCJ Number
11119
Date Published
1968
Length
272 pages
Annotation
A RADICAL BRITISH CRITIQUE OF SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS OF CURRENT CRIMINOLOGY CONCERNING THE PROCESS OF DESIGNATING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS CRIMINAL.
Abstract
BY THE USE OF EXAMPLES DRAWN FROM ENGLISH CRIMINAL STATISTICS AND REPORTS OF COURT PROCEEDINGS, THE AUTHOR DEMONSTRATES HOW SOCIETY, THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM, SELECTS FOR PUNISHMENT A SCAPEGOAT GROUP DRAWN FROM A MUCH WIDER POPULATION OF ANTISOCIAL INDIVIDUALS. THIS GROUP, COMPOSED OF WORKING-CLASS MEN LACKING EDUCATION, INFLUENCE, AND RESOURCES, IS LIABLE TO PENALTIES OF IMPRISONMENT AND DESOCIALIZATION FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASSES ARE RELATIVELY IMMUNE, THOUGH THEY MAY ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT IS IDENTICAL IN ITS SOCIAL EFFECTS. THE AUTHOR POSTULATES THAT CRIME IS A FUNCTIONAL PART OF THE SOCIAL SYSTEM. THE DESIGNATION AND SOCIAL ISOLATION OF A RELATIVELY SMALL GROUP OF VICTIMS PERMITS THE GUILT OF OTHERS TO BE SYMBOLICALLY DISCHARGED. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE CRIMINAL CLASS AND ITS SOCIAL OSTRACISM PERMIT THE REDUCTION OF SOCIAL CLASS HOSTILITY BY DEFLECTING AGGRESSION THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE DIRECTED TOWARD THOSE WITH STATUS, POWER, AND PROPERTY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)