ZERO TOLERANCE

Zero tolerance

Zero tolerance

Introduction

Zero tolerance is a doctrine designed to severely punish any violation of the law, minimizing the delay between the crime and the judicial response. The tolerance of crime is eliminated, so do not take into account mitigating circumstances when punishing crimes. This doctrine has been implemented most notably in New York City. Academics James Wilson and George Kelling , published in 1982 in the journal The Atlantic Monthly an article that defines what are the principles of this theory, using the term "zero tolerance" to define it. The term was recycled from the "Safe and Clean Neighborhoods Act" of New Jersey , 1973.

Discussion

The theory, in the article is illustrated by the analogy with a building with broken windows. If a glass breaks a building is not immediately replaced, some might conclude that the building is abandoned or in ruins and hopelessly, all the rest broken glass because criminals will not give any importance. The zero tolerance policy is the subject of vehement criticism by some who believe that not all violence stops, would be much less influenced by the severity of punishments for social, economic or psychological, the only character repressive zero tolerance is one of the criticisms leveled against this doctrine, accordingly, zero tolerance does not attack more than the consequences (violence, illegal behavior) and in any case the causes of the violations (Kanetake, 2010). Securing a policy of not taking into account the sociological aspect of the crime and therefore is ineffective to stop it.

By the way, is the fact that groups considered by authorities as criminals are displaced because of police pressure. For example, homeless people, drug addicts and prostitutes are displaced to the suburbs of the city or surrounding areas to escape the systematic police repression, violence and crime that accompanies theoretically these groups does not disappear, only is displaced, but once outside the village cease to have statistical reflection (Browne-Dianis, 2011). Criminals, being aware that the sentence is just as severe for a whole category of crimes regardless of their intensity or harmfulness, could be encouraged to "go for it" knowing that the risk for them is the same, committing crimes more damaging.

The penal system is not able to "graduate" sentences to each intensity of crime, so it does not fulfill the principle of progressivity in the punishment. In addition, the face loses its ability to rehabilitate inmates, from the time that the prison policy of zero tolerance applies as instruments such as prison permissions are lost. Zero tolerance is a doctrine designed to severely punish any violation of the law, minimizing the delay between the crime and the judicial response (Kress, 2011). The tolerance of crime is eliminated, so do not take into account mitigating circumstances when punishing crimes. This doctrine has been implemented most notably in New York City.

The "zero tolerance" made famous by Giuliani in New York is equally defended and reviled without being understood by both those who think it is a stench medieval punishments (amputations, ...