Moderating the Material Aspirations of Criminals and Delinquents

Abstract

Abstract Evidence and theory indicate that much crime and delinquency is motivated by criminals' desire for great wealth and status based on wealth. To reduce the crime and delinquency motivated by the desire for great wealth, it will be necessary for society to adopt one of three strategies: (1) increase realistic opportunities for the legitimate acquisition of wealth by criminals and delinquents; (2) influence criminals and delinquents to moderate their material aspirations; or (3) combine the two strategies in some way.' This paper describes a method of moderating the material aspirations of criminals, a method that can be utilized alone or in combination with efforts to increase legitimate opportunities. The program consists of a series of private and group meetings. The contents of meetings are spelled out in printed pamphlets. It has been offered at a county jail and juvenile detention facilities in western Massachusetts with college students serving as staff. An experimental evaluation of the progr...