NCJ Number
65638
Date Published
1975
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE REPORTED AFRICAN REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING OF EXPERTS ON THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS WAS HELD IN PREPARATION OF THE FIFTH UNITED NATIONS CONGRESS ON THE SAME TOPIC IN 1975
Abstract
AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSED WERE (1) CHANGES IN FORMS AND DIMENSIONS OF CRIMINALITY, TRANSNATIONAL AND NATIONAL; (2) CRIMINAL LEGISLATION, JUDICIAL PROCEDURES AND OTHER FORMS OF SOCIAL CONTROL IN THE PREVENTION OF CRIME; (3) THE EMERGING ROLE OF THE POLICE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCES TO CHANGING EXPECTATIONS AND MINIMUM STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE; (4) THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS IN CUSTODY OR IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS; (5) ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME: NEW CHALLENGES AND RESEARCH PLANNING. AMONG THE NEW FORMS OF CRIMINALITY IN AFRICA ARE THEFTS AND ASSAULTS IN NEWLY URBANIZED AREAS, SMUGGLING OF DRUGS AND CONTRABAND, THE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, CORRUPTION AMONG PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, AND ABUSE OF AUTOMOBILES. IT WAS AGREED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR COLONIAL CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER ADEQUATE IN DEALING WITH AFRICA'S INCREASING CRIME PROBLEMS. AN IMPROVED IMAGE OF THE POLICE, FREE OF COLONIAL AUTHORITY IMPLICATIONS, MUST BE CREATED THROUGH PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAMS, RECRUITMENT OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL, AND INSTITUTION OF A POLICE CODE OF ETHICS. PROBLEMS WITH THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS CONCERNED AN INABILITY TO COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE FUNDS, FACILITIES, TRAINED STAFFS, AND OVERCROWDING. THE HUMANITARIAN COMMITMENT OF CORRECTIONS WAS REAFFIRMED. RESEARCH AND TRAINING FOR PLANNING THE PREVENTION OF CRIME SHOULD BE CARRIED ON BY REGIONAL COUNCILS UNDER UNITED NATIONS AUSPICES. APPENDED ARE A LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AND DOCUMENTS. (MRK)