NCJ Number
6292
Journal
International Review of Criminal Policy Issue: 22 Dated: (1964) Pages: 17-28
Date Published
1964
Length
12 pages
Annotation
COMPARISON OF AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT, AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE OF CRIMINOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE.
Abstract
IT MAY BE SAID THAT THE NEAR-MONOPOLY OF THE LAW IN ASSOCIATION WITH MEDICINE (EUROPEAN SITUATION) HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY THE NEAR-MONOPOLY OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIOLOGY (SITUATION IN NORTH AMERICA). IN BOTH SYSTEMS, ELEMENTS DRAWN FROM OTHER BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS AUXILIARY SCIENCES. A NEW AND RADICAL INTER-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH, WHICH DOES AWAY WITH THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN A DOMINANT DISCIPLINE AND AUXILIARY DISCIPLINES, HAS COME TO POSTULATE THE EXISTENCE OF CRIMINOLOGY AS AN INDEPENDENT SUBJECT AND THE BIRTH OF A NEW PROFESSION. IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO MAKE AN APPRAISAL OF THE RESULTS. A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESISTANCES ENCOUNTERED AND OF THE PROGRESSIVE FORCES AT WORK BOTH IN UNIVERSITY CIRCLES AND AMONG PRACTITIONERS INDICATES THAT THE MAIN MOTIVES OF THE RESISTANCE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT TRAINING IN CRIMINOLOGY ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE WHICH HAVE TO BE RECKONED WITH WHENEVER ANY INNOVATION IS PUT FORWARD. THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN AND THE DEFENCE OF SPECIAL INTERESTS WILL INSPIRE ARGUMENTS TO DISPUTE THE USEFULNESS, AND EVEN THE EXISTENCE, OF A NEW INDEPENDENT DISCIPLINE. AUTHOR ABSTRACT