NCJ Number
29265
Editor(s)
D SZABO
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
'IF PEOPLE ARE SCARED ENOUGH, OR DETERMINED ENOUGH, OR INFORMED ENOUGH, WE MAY SOMEDAY REALIZE OUR CHERISHED GOAL OF EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW.'
Abstract
THIS FOUR-PART FILM PRESENTS A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONING - OR NON-FUNCTIONING - OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, AREA, HIGHLIGHTING FRUSTRATIONS VOICED BY AND TOWARD EVERY ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO 'DO SOMETHING' ABOUT THE SITUATION. PART ONE, 'CRIME, CRIMINALS, AND THE SYSTEM,' DOCUMENTS CITIZEN, POLICE OFFICER, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, JUDGE, PRETRIAL DETAINEE, AND CRIMINOLOGIST DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PREVALENCE OF STRANGER-TO-STRANGER CRIME, COURT DELAYS AND CONGESTION, CRIMINALS BEING SET FREE ON TECHNICALITIES, LACK OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, CITIZEN FEAR OF CRIME, THE OVERREPRESENTATION OF THE POOR AND MINORITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WHITE COLLAR AND ORGANIZED CRIMINALS. THE NEED FOR REFORM OF THE 'NON-SYSTEM' OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS CITED. PART TWO, 'FEAR, CRIME, AND PREVENTION,' FOCUSES ON CITIZEN FEAR OF CRIME, BOTH IN AN INNER CITY PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT AND AN UPPER MIDDLE CLASS SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD. STRESSED IS THE EFFECT THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND BANDING TOGETHER CAN HAVE ON FEELINGS OF 'CONTROLESSNESS' AND ISOLATION IN URBAN-SUBURBAN AREAS. EFFORTS MADE IN THESE AREAS BY A SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD CITIZEN BAND (CB) PATROL, A COOPERATIVE DIVERSION/REFERRAL EFFORT INVOLVING POLICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS, AND BUILD, A COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAM ARE EXAMINED. 'JUSTICE AND THE CRIMINAL COURTS,' PART THREE, TOUCHES UPON THE 'JUSTICE DELAYED/JUSTICE DENIED' DEBATE, COURT DELAYS CAUSED BY LACK OF WITNESS COOPERATION CAUSED BY FEAR OF REPRISAL, THE OPERATION AND QUALITY OF INDIGENT DEFENDER SYSTEMS, AND THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED SENTENCES AND DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS AS OPPOSED TO INCARCERATION. THE LAST FILM, 'THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY,' EXPLORES VARIOUS EFFORTS BY CHICAGO COMMUNITIES TO BECOME INVOLVED IN AND TO SUPPORT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FEATURED ARE A VOLUNTEER YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM, OPERATION DARE, A CHICAGO-BASED SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR EX-OFFENDERS, AND FIFTH CITY, A 15 PROJECT WEST SIDE, INNER CITY, GHETTO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/INVOLVEMENT/ACTION PROGRAM.