'Rotten Social Background': Should the Criminal Law Recognize a Defense of Severe Environmental Deprivation?
Law & Inequality, Vol. 3, (1985)
82 Pages Posted: 18 Jul 2012
Date Written: 1985
Abstract
Considers whether socioeconomic deprivation, also known as rotten social background (RSB), can ever constitute a criminal defense. Summarizes social scientific and medical literature on the contribution of extreme poverty and deprivation to criminal behavior. Canvasses existing criminal defenses and analyzes their ability to accommodate RSB defendants. Identifies the forms that an RSB defense might take and the costs and benefits of each option.
Keywords: criminal defenses, poverty, environmental deprivation, guilt, rotten social background
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Delgado, Richard, 'Rotten Social Background': Should the Criminal Law Recognize a Defense of Severe Environmental Deprivation? (1985). Law & Inequality, Vol. 3, (1985), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2111695
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