The Effects of the War on Crime

T HE problem to be discussed is the effect of the psychological atmosphere and changed realities of war-time America on criminal offenders. In approaching this problem, several external factors require consideration before conclusions can be drawn from criminologic experience or statistics. In the first place the large number of men brought into the armed forces removes them from the possibility of criminal activity in their home communities. Equally important is the fact that thousands of men unemployed or on relief projects have been drafted into the war industries at high wages. The transposition of whole sections of the population to areas of war activity, shipyards and the like, where makeshift housing and loose community organization exists, may easily influence patterns of behavior. Added to this are further factors of shrinkage of leisure hours for workers, the increase of availability of work for adolescents, and so on. Beyond the above stated real factors arising out of the mechanics of war activity, are potent psychological ones influencing the total population. War propaganda implants a psychology in the public which gradually replaces peace-time attitudes. War attitudes are almost antithetical to our usual thinking. Effort is rewarded by denial, not by satisfaction: we are urged towards exertion and accomplishement but taught to accept deprivation and restriction. Further confusing to our thinking and feeling is the mobilization of aggressive impulses, upon the suppression of which a premium is placed in ordinary times. Slogans like Pay Your Taxes, Smash the Axis or the anomalous Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition