NCJ Number
64225
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
DECRIMINALIZATION, TREATMENT, INCARCERATION, DETERRENT SENTENCING, POLICING, SOCIAL REFORMS, AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS ARE DISCUSSED AS CRIME CONTROL METHODS IN THIS SYMPOSIUM PAPER.
Abstract
TREATING RATHER THAN PUNISHING CRIMINALS DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK WELL. STUDIES ARE DISCUSSED WHICH ILLUSTRATE THAT TREATED VERSUS INCARCERATED JUVENILES OR ADULTS SHOW NO DIFFERENCE IN RECIDIVISM. CURRENT OPINION HOLDS THAT CRIMINALITY IS NOT MERELY A DISEASE; SOME OF ITS COMPLEX CAUSES ARE DISCUSSED. THE POTENTIAL OF DECRIMINALIZATION IS VIEWED AS LIMITED, EXCEPT FOR VICTIMLESS CRIMES SUCH AS DRINKING OR CERTAIN SEX ACTS. INCARCERATION FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME TO PREVENT CRIME DOES NOT DISTINGUISH AMONG THOSE WHO WOULD OR WOULD NOT BECOME RECIDIVISTS AND MEETS WITH LIMITED SUCCESS: ONLY MINOR REDUCTIONS IN CRIME ARE THE ESTIMATED RESULTS OF SENTENCE INCREASES. SIMILARLY, DETERRENT SENTENCING IS COMPLICATED BY INADEQUATE INFORMATION ON HOW CRIMINALS VIEW THE RISKS OF APPREHENSION. RECENT STUDIES INDICATE THAT STRENGTHENING POLICE FORCES AND INCREASING PATROLS HAVE QUESTIONABLE CRIME REDUCTION SUCCESS; BENEFICIAL RESULTS OF PATROLLING ARE HAMPERED BY DIFFICULTIES IN INVESTIGATIONS. MOREOVER, QUICK POLICE RESPONSE TIME IS OFTEN NULLIFIED BY VICTIMS' DELAY IN REPORTING CRIME. ALTHOUGH POLICE PRESENCE IS NECESSARY TO INHIBIT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, FEW CHANGES IN POLICING POLICIES THAT ARE BOTH ACCEPTABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE WILL HAVE MUCH EFFECT ON CRIME CONTROL. SOCIAL PREVENTION METHODS, SUCH AS IMPROVING EDUCATION OR DECREASING POVERTY, ARE ALSO OF QUESTIONALBE VALUE, BUT IMPROVED SECURITY OF CRIME TARGETS, SUCH AS STORES OR AUTOMOBILES, APPEARS TO BE THE MORE USEFUL CRIME CONTROL METHOD. SUCCESSFUL CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION REQUIRE COOPERATION OF POLICE, CITIZENS, AND LOCAL AGENCIES. THE CREATION OF LOCAL CRIME-PREVENTION AUTHORITIES IS RECOMMENDED. EXTENSIVE TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)