USES OF CRIMINOLOGY - COMPLAINT FROM AN UNGRATEFUL CURMUDGEON (FROM NEW AND THE OLD CRIMINOLOGY, 1978, BY EDITH ELISABETH FLYNN AND JOHN P CONRAD - SEE NCJ-47562)

• NCJ Number: 47564
• Author(s): J P CONRAD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A DISCUSSION IS UNDERTAKEN OF THE APPLICATION, DURING THE 1960'S, OF CRIMINOLOGY AND OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES TO THE PROBLEM OF ASSESSING AND SOLVING DILEMMAS RELATING TO CRIME AND CORRECTIONS.

Abstract

DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS OF KENNEDY AND JOHNSON, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS WERE CALLED UPON TO HELP SOLVE VARIOUS SOCIETAL PROBLEMS, CHIEF AMONG THEM THOSE OF CRIME AND CORRECTIONS. CRIMINOLOGISTS BEGAN MANY STUDIES, INCLUDING RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF VICTIMOLOGY. EVENTUALLY, RESEARCHERS RECOMMENDED THE REORGANIZATION OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION AND THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF CERTAIN VICTIMLESS CRIMES. HOWEVER, PRESIDENT JOHNSON HOPED FOR THE ELUSIVE SOLUTION TO CRIME IN GENERAL, AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS WERE ASKED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM, DEVELOP SUPPORTABLE THEORIES, AND TELL THE PRESIDENT WHAT WOULD WORK. INSTEAD OF THE HOPED-FOR CURE, JOHNSON WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WOULD WORK TO SOLVE THE CRIME PROBLEM, BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE THEORY WAS RADICAL OR CONSERVATIVE, THE COUNTRY WAS NOT READY FOR SUCH A REVOLUTION IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINOLOGY. ALTHOUGH CRIMINOLOGISTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH SINCE THE MID-1960'S, THEY HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THEIR FUNDAMENTAL MISSION--THAT OF STUDYING CRIMINALS AND THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY. FURTHER, SYSTEMS OF SOCIAL CONTROL HAVE BEEN STUDIED FOR SO LONG THAT THE STUDIES ARE NO LONGER OF ANY USE. AS A RESULT, A NEW CRIMINOLOGY IS NEEDED TO DIAGNOSE AND RECTIFY THE ILLS OF A DEGENERATING SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (BAC)