Applying Violentization: From Theory to Praxis

Abstract

ABSTRACTA holistic, agentive, and progressive violent crime control policy derived from the theory of violentization will be presented. The theory is based on three main ideas: (1) violent dominative encounters, (2) violentization process, and (3) violent communal disorganization and organization. On the basis of each one of these ideas, specific policy recommendations are developed for stymieing the formation of attempted and completed violent criminal acts; the development of violent, ultraviolent, and violent predatory criminals; and the transformation or maintenance of the communities in which these criminals evolve and later commit their crimes. The policy formulated is holistic because it attacks the problem of violent crime on three different integrated levels, and takes into account that not all violent criminals, violent criminal acts, and communities are equally violent; thereby, different modes of intervention are needed for them. The policy is agentive because it views both actual and potential violent criminals as active agents in their commission of violent criminal acts and rehabilitation. Finally, the policy is progressive because it makes education—antiviolent, remedial, vocational, and higher education, and gainful employment in legitimate occupations—the cornerstone of violent crime prevention and violent offender rehabilitation.