NCJ Number
44997
Editor(s)
R L WOODSON
Date Published
1977
Length
189 pages
Annotation
PAPERS ARE PRESENTED FROM A SYMPOSIUM OF BLACK CRIMINOLOGISTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, AND EX-CRIMINALS TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS.
Abstract
PROBLEM AREAS CONSIDERED IN THE PAPERS INCLUDE: THE PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME BY RESIDENTS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY; URBAN STREET CRIME, INCLUDING PROSTITUTION, ROBBERY, AND SMALL-TIME DRUG TRAFFICKING; AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO BLACK YOUTHS. THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN POLICING THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE CONSIDERED. INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AT ALL LEVELS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR AMONG POLICE OFFICERS AND IN THE PRISONS, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ATTITUDES OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE ANALYZED. THE EFFECTS OF PRISON CONDITIONS ON BLACK INMATES AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF A MORATORIUM ON PRISON CONSTRUCTION TO CRIME PREVENTION ARE CONSIDERED. IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS THAT NEW FORMULAS MUST BE DEVISED IN PURSUING SOLUTIONS TO URBAN CRIME. A CAREFUL ASSESSMENT MUST BE MADE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WITH AN EYE TOWARD SINGLING OUT THE SPECIFIC ASPECTS WHICH DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRAMS' SUCCESS. IF INDEED IT IS THE LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE THE CLEAREST UNDERSTANDING AND CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL DISCOMFORTS, THEN PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD BE IN THE POSITION OF ASSISTING THOSE RESIDENTS IN THEIR STRUGGLE RATHER THAN BUREAUCRATICALLY ADMINISTERING UNDERMINING LOCAL EFFORTS. PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD COME DIRECTLY FROM THE PEOPLE, IN SOME CASES INSTIGATED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM. REACTIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS TO EACH PAPER ARE PRESENTED. MOST OF THE PAPERS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A LIST OF REFERENCES OR A BIBLIOGRAPHY. A LIST OF ATTENDEES IS PROVIDED. FOR INDIVIDUAL PAPERS, SEE NCJ 44998-45004. (VA)