NCJ Number
52991
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUTUMN-WINTER 1978) Pages: 60-67
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
SOVIET CRIME PREVENTION THEORY AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME ARE EXPLORED, AND RESEARCH ON CRIME CAUSATION AND CRIME PREVENTION IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
CRIME PREVENTION WAS THE FOCUS OF EFFORTS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN 1963, WHEN CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES WERE GIVEN BOTH LEGITMACY AND VISIBILITY. SOVIET CRIME PREVENTION THEORY IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT CRIME CAN BE ELIMINATED BY ATTACKING CRIMINALITY IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. CRIMINAL POLICY PLANNERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY BY ELIMINATING SOCIAL CAUSES OF CRIME, INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN ALL FACETS OF CRIME CONTROL, AND IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS. CRIME PREVENTION IS CLOSELY LINKED WITH RESEARCH ON CRIME CAUSATION. SPECIFIC PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES IN THE COMMUNITY SUPPLEMENT NATIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT CRIMINALITY. SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE ORGANIZED IN SCHOOLS, FACTORIES, AND OTHER PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT TO PREVENT CRIMINALITY AND TO PROMOTE DESIRED BEHAVIOR. INSTITUTIONS WITH HIGH RATES OF REPORTED CRIMINALITY ARE INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE DISCIPLINE AND TO INTENSIFY CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN CRIME PREVENTION. OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS TO AID THE POLICE, COMRADE COURTS, AND JUDGES. OFFENDER SENTENCES SERVE A PUNITIVE AND A REHABILITATIVE FUNCTION. PUNISHMENT ADMINISTERED WITHIN THE SOCIETAL CONTEXT IS CORRECTIVE LABOR. MOST CRIMINALS RECOGNIZED AS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS RECIDIVISTS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC PROPERTY THEFT, ASSAULT, RAPE, AND HOOLIGANISM. MOST RECIDIVISTS ARE MALE, AND MALE OFFENDERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE REPEAT OFFENDERS THAN THEIR FEMALE COUNTERPARTS. DESPITE THE EMPHASIS PLACED ON CRIME PREVENTION, NO SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN ANY CATEGORY OF CRIME HAS BEEN OBSERVED. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)