Citation

Balch RW. Crime Delinq. 1975; 21(2): 116-130.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/001112877502100204

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In spite of its popularity in scientific and correctional circles, the medical model of delinquency is open to question on theoreti cal, practical, and ethical grounds. The medical perspective ob scures the nature of delinquency by neglecting the critical role that social audiences play in defining behavior as delinquent or non- delinquent. It has also hampered preventive and correctional efforts because of the undue emphasis given to the problems of individual delinquents rather than the institutional framework within which delinquency occurs. Finally, the medical model of delinquency raises serious ethical questions about the treatment of "predelinquent" children, the indeterminate sentence, and the individualization of correctional programs--all of which have traditionally been justified by the medical analogy.

Language: en