STIGMA OF A FORMER CRIME AS AN INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE

• NCJ Number: 63991
• Journal: Cenipec Revista Volume: 1 Dated: (1976) Pages: 43-63
• Author(s): V G SUCRE; B WOLFERMANN; M CASANOVA; B ZOTES
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 21 pages
• Corporate Author: Universidad de Los Andes
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Country: Venezuela

Annotation

CRIMINOGENIC EFFECTS ARE ANALYZED AS THEY RELATE TO THE STIGMATIZATION OF CRIMINAL RECORDS ON EX-OFFENDERS, WHO FEEL THEMSELVES LOCKED OUT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ALL POSSIBILITIES OF SOCIAL REINTEGRATION.

Abstract

A PILOT PROGRAM INVOLVED THE REMOVAL OF THE CRIMINAL LABEL AND SOCIAL STIGMA OF POLICE RECORDS FROM A GROUP OF FORMER OFFENDERS TO ENABLE THEM TO BECOME ACCEPTABLE TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS AND THUS BE REINTEGRATED INTO THE WORKING MAINSTREAM. AN EVALUATION STUDY INCLUDED A DETAILED STUDY OF THE PSYCHOLOGICALLY CRIPPLING AND CRIMINOGENIC EFFECTS OF STIGMATIZATION. THE RECORD EXPUNGEMENT PROGRAMS WERE SPONSORED BY THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DIVISION OF THE BUREAU OF PRISONS OF THE VENEZUELAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND WERE BEGUN ON A LIMITED SCALE (99 SUBJECTS) AND WITH AN ORIGINALLY LIMITED DURATION (1967-72). DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECTS WERE POORLY EDUCATED, SOME FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE, WITH LOW INTELLIGENCE AND FEW MARKETABLE SKILLS, THEIR MOTIVATIONS AND DESIRE FOR SOCIAL REINTEGRATION WERE SO STRONG THAT THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM WAS ZERO, EVEN WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO 1,000 IN 1975. THE SPONSORS OF THIS PIONEERING EXPERIMENT POINT OUT THAT CRIMINAL RECORD WHICH WOULD ACCOMPANY THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR LIFE, WOULD SOCIALLY HANDICAP THEM FROM THE START. FACING A HOPELESS STRUGGLE AGAINST A SOCIETY WHICH THEY PERCEIVE AS HAVING REJECTED THEM, THESE INDIVIDUALS UNCONSCIOUSLY SHARE THE GENERAL OPINION THAT THEY ARE WORTHLESS AND REACT TO THE NEGATIVE SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS BY FULFILLING THEM WITH A VENGEANCE. THESE SOCIAL OUTCASTS AND OUTSIDERS DEVELOP AN ALMOST INFERIORITY COMPLEX, WHICH DEMANDS OVERCOMPENSATION BY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. THEIR NEED FOR HUMAN RAPPORT DRIVES THEM TO SEEK OUT THE COMPANY OF THEIR FELLOW OUTCASTS AND CRIMINALS, SO THAT THE SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECIES OF CRIME AND HOPELESSNESS ARE ENDLESSLY REPEATED. PROGRAMS SUCH AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN THIS ARTICLE INDICATE THAT THE EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS, AND, HENCE, THE LIFTING OF THE SOCIAL STIGMA, OFFERS HOPE OF SALVAGING SEEMINGLY HOPELESS CASES. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)