People Changing Agencies

The central goal of people-changing agencies is to alter the nature of people’s behavior. Educational and mental health agencies are excellent examples of people-changing agencies. Education, counseling and punishment are the principal methods by which we attempt to change offenders into law-abiding citizens. Most counseling and educational services for offenders are provided by agencies outside of the justice process. Justice agencies provide a collection point for individuals whose statuses have been legally altered. Practitioners must make decisions as to what sorts of changes in status are needed for each offender.

Status changes are sometimes undesirable because they can have negative effects on a person’s future behavior. The practice of allowing minor first offenders to avoid having their status lowered by the justice process is known as diversion. The decision to divert an offender to a non-criminal justice agency may be left to practitioner judgment but may sometimes be a matter of agency policy or legal mandate.

C. Find in the text given above answers for the following.

1. What types of work are all social agencies mandated to perform?

2. What is the purpose of people processing agencies?

3. What traits are bureaucracies defined by?

4. How do bureaucrats view their job?

5. Why may the effects of their decisions on the client or society be neglected?

6. What is the central goal of people-changing agencies?

7. Why are status changes sometimes undesirable?

Exercise 10. Enrich your vocabulary.

I Synonyms. Match each word in column A with the word of similar meaning in column B.

crime	to find guilty
to enforce	difference
Goal	a thought
to criminate	judgment
a concept	to accuse
to convict	to compel
discretion	sin

II Definitions. Match each word in part A with the definition of a word in part B.

A. suspect, practitioner, jury, stage, career, discretion, statute, criminology, to mandate, bureaucracy, convict, citizen.

B.

1. A group of persons, usually 12, sworn to listen to the evidence at a trial and pronounce a true verdict.

2. Scientific study and investigation of crime and criminals.

3. A period of phase in the development of anything.

4. One owing allegiance to a state.

5. To control or to assign by a mandate.

6. A person thought to be guilty, under suspicion.

7. A system of government with many subdivisions and a large staff of bureau chiefs.

8. One who has been adjudged guilty of crime and sentenced.

9. One engaged in the practice of a profession.

10. Free, individual judgment.

11. A written, law; a permanent rule adopted officially by a university.

12. A life’s work and achievement.

Exercise 11. Find in the text of this unit all word combinations with

the following words:

crime act punish

Reproduce the contexts in which they were used. Make up your own sentences with these words.

Exercise 12. Point out the main ideas of the texts of this unit. Make a list of them.

Exercise 13. Brainstorm: how do you understand the purpose of criminal justice agencies? In your opinion, how should Criminal Justice agencies be organized in this country?

Exercise 14. A. Read and translate the text. Match the following headings with the sections of the text: History. Application. Techniques. Subject. Objectives.

Criminology

(1) Criminology is a social science dealing with the nature, extent, and causes of crime; the characteristics of criminals and their organizations; the problems of apprehending and convicting offenders; the operation of prisons and other correctional instructions; the rehabilitation of convicts both in and out of prison; and the prevention of crime.

(2) The science of criminology has two basic objectives: to determine the causes, whether personal or social, of criminal behavior and to evolve valid principles for the social control of crime. In pursuing these objectives, criminology draws on the findings of biology, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, anthropology, and related fields.

(3) Criminology originated in the late 18^th century when various movements began to question the humanity and efficiency of using punishment for retribution rather than deterrence and reform. There arose as a consequence what is called the classical school of criminology, which aimed to mitigate legal penalties and humanize penal institutions. During 19^th century the positivist school attempted to extend scientific neutrality to the understanding of crime. Because they held that criminals were shaped by their environment, positivists emphasized case studies and rehabilitative measures. A later school, the ‘social defence’ movement, stressed the importance of balance between the rights of criminals and the rights of society.

(4) Criminologists commonly use several research techniques. The collection and interpretation of statistics is generally the initial step in research. The case study, often used by psychologists, concentrates on an individual or a group. The typological method involves classifying offences, criminals, or criminal areas according to various criteria. Sociological research, which may involve many different techniques, is used in criminology to study groups, subcultures, and gangs as well as rates and kinds of crime within geographic areas.

(5) Criminology has many practical applications. Its findings can give lawyer, judges, and prison officials a better understanding of criminals, which may lead to more effective treatment. Criminological research can be used by legislators and the reform of laws and of penal institutions.

B. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:

Кримінологія розглядає природу і причини злочинів; вивчення обставин правопорушення за матеріалами справи; кримінологія спирається на досягнення інших наук; проблеми затримання злочинців; виробити діючі принципи; встановити причини злочинності; проблеми запобігання злочинності; використовування на практиці; виправні установи; пом´якшувати покарання; перший крок; наголошувати.

С. Brainstorms.

1.

2. Misdeed, misconduct.

3. Crime, offend, wrongdoing.

4. Unlawful act, violation of the law, lawbreaking.

5. Harm, sin.

What is your understanding of these words? Give examples.

III. Питання, тести для самоконтролю

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