Translating Criminological Theory into Action Programs: Theoretical and Political Considerations

Abstract

Criminologists have been unable to successfully translate theory which is intended to orchestrate social change into applied policy programs. This inability is hypothesized to be afunction of two interrelated conditions. First, since effective application of criminological theories requires the identification, specification, and interrelation of causative factors, a valid theory must contain unambiguous causal statements, scope conditions, and calculi. Second, criminological theories are applied in apolitical environment which may or may not allowfor the unfettered change of factors identfied by the theory. Currently, the undeveloped state of criminological theorv and interference by;political interests make successful application almost impossible. This article addresses the problem of theory application in a political environment and presents a strategy for the evaluation and application of criminological theory.