NCJ Number
59785
Journal
Social Problems Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (APRIL 1979) Pages: COMPLETE ISSUE
Editor(s)
R COLVARD
Date Published
1979
Length
150 pages
Annotation
THEORETICAL PAPERS ON ISSUES IMPORTANT IN CONTEMPORARY CRIMINOLOGY ARE PRESENTED IN THIS JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE SOCIOLOGICAL WORKS ON CRIME AND LAW IN THIS VOLUME COVER SUCH DIVERSE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT. FOR INSTANCE, A MARXIST CRITIQUE IS OUTLINED OF INSTRUMENTAL MARXIST ASSUMPTIONS (THE STATE WILL USE THE LAW TO PROTECT CAPITALISTS' CLASS INTERESTS) AND POSITIVIST METHODS (SUCH AS STATISTICAL CORRELATIONS WHICH ARE INCREASINGLY USED IN RESEARCH TESTING THE ACCURACY OF THE 'CONFLICT THEORY' IN CRIMINOLOGY. AN EXAMPLE OF CONFLICT THEORY CONCERNING INEQUALITY AND POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE FOLLOWS, ALONG WITH AN ANARCHIST'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE COMING REDEFINITIONS OF CRIME AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIETAL EVOLUTION ON CRIMINALITY. EACH CRITIQUE CHALLENGES THE OTHER'S ASSUMPTIONS. THE PAPER ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EMPHASIZES A WORLD SYSTEM APPROACH TO ANALYSIS RATHER THAN ONE IN WHICH NATIONAL BOUNDARIES SHOULD STILL BE GIVEN THEIR TRADITIONAL (ETHNOCENTRIC) EMPHASIS. OTHER PAPERS INTERPRET PUBLIC OPINION POLLS ON SUPPORT FOR HARSHER CRIMINAL SANCTIONS, ANALYZE HOW ATTORNEYS ASSESS VARIOUS TYPES OF EVIDENCE AND DECIDE WHETHER AND HOW TO PROSECUTE CASES, OFFER AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF A PLEA BARGAINING TRANSCRIPT, EXAMINE DELINQUENCY AND ITS CORRELATIONS WITH ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN'S LIBERATION, AND SURVEY MIDDLE-CLASS VANDALISM AND AGE-STATUS CONFLICTS. FOOTNOTES, TABULAR DATA, AND REFERENCES ACCOMPANY EACH PAPER. (WJR)