Reviews : Unemployment, Crime and Offenders Ian Crow et al Routledge, 1989, bb, 162pp
| Published date | 01 December 1989 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058903600411 |
| Date | 01 December 1989 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Unemployment, Crime
unemployment? Three areas were
and Offenders
selected to represent different
unemployment conditions - the
Ian Crow
et
al
North East, South East and West
Routledge, 1989, bb, 162pp
Midlands and within each a pair of
courts were chosen for contrasting
Various issues are capable of produc-
sentencing practices -
either below or
ing entrenched views, impassioned
above average use of custody. Though
outbursts and occasional apoplexy on
there is a longstanding link between
the part of politicians. References to
unemployment and imprisonment,
the P~511 Tax, the intentional promotion
their research showed that magistrates
of homosexuality and political advisers
were not overly punitive towards the
are obvious examples but so too is the
unemployed - if anything they were
question of an alleged link between
more
concerned not to jeopardize the
unemployment and crime. Was it coin-
jobs of those in work. Options, though,
cidence or not that the early ’80s saw
were limited. Those out of work were
a rise in both crime and unemploy-
less likely to be fined and more likely
ment ? The Prime Minister was clear at
to have difficulty in paying fines. Part-
the time,that there was no link yet
ly because of this and partly because
politicians remain worried At a 1988
it was seen as a means of providing
conference John Patten argued.
constructive activity, Community Ser-
vice Orders were attractive disposals
’If we are to prevent crime then we
for the unemployed, which is pro-
must attach importance to getting
blematic if one sees such sentences as
former offenders back into the job
alternatives to custody. Likewise
market. Getting them into work or
NAPO’s approach to YTS and CP
training for work is crucial in
schemes may have limited probation
preventing them from lapsing back
referrals and the writers call for more
into old associations and a life of
to be done to inform courts about
crime.’
schemes for the unemployed and
Yet he felt obliged to add...
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