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IDEOLOGY AND EUPHORIA IN CRIME CONTROL

NCJ Number
58343
Journal
University of Toledo Law Review Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1979) Pages: 370-388
Author(s)
F ZIMRING; G HAWKINS
Date Published
1979
Length
20 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF THE IMPACT OF LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCES ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SUCH INTERVENTION HAS HAD A DEBILITATING EFFECT ON FASHIONING A COHESIVE CRIME CONTROL POLICY.
Abstract
A DISTINCT DIVISION OF OPINION EXISTS IN THE UNITED STATES ON HOW TO BEST ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF CRIME. LIBERALS TEND TO CONDEMN THE SYSTEM AND CONDONE THE CRIMINAL, WHILE CONSERVATIVES ARE APT TO CONDONE THE SYSTEM AND CONDEMN THE CRIMINAL. MUCH OF THE APPARENT DIFFERENCE IN POSITIONS CAN BE SHOWN TO BE A MATTER OF POLITICAL POSTURING THAT IGNORES EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE AND RELIES ON VALUES JUDGEMENTS FOR ITS JUSTIFICATION. INTERNAL INCONSISTENCIES EXIST WITHIN BOTH POSITIONS AS CAN BE SEEN FROM AN EXAMINATION OF THE GUN CONTROL ISSUE. CONSERVATIVES OPPOSE GUN CONTROL BECAUSE IT RESTRICTS THE RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WITHOUT OFFERING BETTER PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME. LIBERALS SUPPORT IT BECAUSE HOMICIDE RATES MAY BE LINKED TO THE AVAILABILITY OF GUNS AND BECAUSE GUNS ARE MORE LETHAL THAN OTHER WEAPONS. LIBERALS TEND TO VIEW THE CAUSES OF CRIME AS BEING SOCIETAL IN NATURE, WHILE CONSERVATIVES BLAME THE INDIVIDUAL. IT CAN BE SEEN THAT THE TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS IS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY THE TYPE OF IDEOLOGY PREVAILING WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CONSERVATIVES FAVOR THE USE OF HARSH PRISON SENTENCES WHILE LIBERALS ARGUE FOR A THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO PRISONER TREATMENT. IN SUCH A SITUATION, THE PROBLEMS OF CRIME COME TO BE DISCUSSED ON A SYMBOLIC BASIS. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF SYMBOLIC LEGISLATION WAS THE 1973 REVISION OF THE NEW YORK STATE DRUG LAW WHICH ESTABLISHED A PUNITIVE APPROACH TO DRUG OFFENSES IN ORDER TO SCARE PEOPLE OUT OF THE DRUG TRADE. YET A RESEARCH STUDY SHOWED THAT THE LAW FAILED TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, AND IN FACT, THE PROBLEM HAD BECOME EVEN WORSE. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)

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