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CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY IN THE TREATMENT OF MINORS WITH DEVIANT CONDUCT

NCJ Number
64318
Journal
CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 1 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 56-70
Author(s)
A Q CUARON
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT CONNOTATIONS, OF THE CONCEPT OF CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY ARE EXAMINED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS APPLICATIONS TO THE FIELD OF JUVENILE DEVIANCY.
Abstract
THE TERM CLINIC ORIGINALLY HAD A STRICTLY MEDICAL MEANING, ENCOMPASSING THE PROCESSES OF EXAMINATION, OBSERVATION, DIAGNOSIS OF A PATIENT'S ILLNESS, AND, FINALLY, PROGNOSIS OF THE TREATMENT MOST LIKELY TO EFFECT A CURE. THE CLINICAL APPROACH TO CRIMINOLOGY, OR CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY, CONSISTS OF PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATIONS OF OFFENDERS TO DIAGNOSE THE PATHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN THEIR PERSONALITIES, THEN FORMULATE A PROGNOSIS OF THE TREATMENT MOST LIKELY TO EFFECT THEIR RECOVERY, OR THEIR REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY. THE MOST HOPEFUL AND EFFECTIVE USE OF CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY IS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DEVIANT BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE PATHOLOGICAL FORMS TO BE CURED BY MEANS OF AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT THAT IS PLANNED AS A RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION-OBSERVATION-DIAGNOSIS-PROGNOSIS SEQUENCE WHICH COMPRISES CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY. SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL CONDUCTING CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY SHOULD, IDEALLY, BE FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS TO DETECT THE DEVIANT CONDUCT OF JUVENILES WHEREVER IT OCCURS (A TASK FOR WHICH WOMEN HAVE PROVED TO BE ESPECIALLY WELL SUITED); PHYSICIANS TO DIAGNOSE THE POSSIBLE PATHOLOGICAL CAUSES OF THE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR; SOCIAL WORKERS TO INVESTIGATE THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND FAMILY BACKGROUNDS OF THE SUBJECTS; EDUCATORS TO PERFORM A 'PEDAGOGICAL DIAGNOSIS'; AND, FINALLY, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL NEEDED TO BEGIN AND SUSTAIN THE TREATMENT PRESCRIBED FOR THE JUVENILE DEVIANTS AS A RESULT OF THE DIAGNOSES OF ALL THE EXPERTS. THE SUCCESSFUL CURE WILL BE THE REHABILITATION OF JUVENILE DEVIANTS, THEIR IMMUNIZATION AGAINST FUTURE RELAPSES AND THEIR RETURN, AS HEALTHY AND NORMAL INDIVIDUALS, TO THEIR FAMILIES AND TO SOCIETY. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)