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Victimless Crime: A Definitional Issue

NCJ Number
126007
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (1988) Pages: 87-102
Author(s)
B G Stitt
Date Published
1988
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The concept of victimless crime has been employed, discussed, and debated by criminologists and criminal justice professionals since the early sixties.
Abstract
A number of different definitions have been proposed, but few if any could, upon close examination, be considered conceptually clear. This paper examines the notion of victimless crime and through an analysis of the concept of victim, and the necessity for harm to be present for victimization to occur, provides a definition possessing maximum conceptual clarity. 4 notes and 24 references. (Author abstract)

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