NCJ Number
63178
Editor(s)
A D CALVIN
Date Published
1979
Length
100 pages
Annotation
ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE EXPLORED BY PARTICIPANTS IN A LAW DAY CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
Abstract
IN ATTENDANCE WERE LAWYERS AND LEGAL SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES. SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDED THE REVISION OF THE PRESENT PENAL CODE AND THE PROPOSED CODE, SENATE BILL 1437; THE FAILURE OF IMPRISONMENT TO DETER OR TO REHABILITATE; THE ELITISM OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM BY THE NONLEGAL ELEMENTS IN SOCIETY; AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S LACK OF CONCERN FOR VICTIMS. SPEAKERS NOTED THE TENDENCY OF CERTAIN MINORITY GROUPS TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN PRISON POPULATIONS AND QUESTIONED THE EQUALITY OF ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS, AS WELL AS THE SUCCESS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY IN PROVIDING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL TYPES OF YOUTHS THAT WOULD NOURISH THEIR DEVELOPMENT INTO WHOLESOME AND LAWABIDING ADULTS. OTHER POINTS INTRODUCED WERE THE COMPLEXITY AND BREADTH OF CRIMINAL LAW WHICH APPEARS TO ENCOMPASS AN OVERLY WIDE RANGE OF ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOR--OVER 300,000 ACTS CAN BE LEGALLY REGARDED AS FELONIES OR MISDEMEANORS; THE NEED FOR INSTILLING A SENSE OF SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH EDUCATION AT AN EARLY AGE ABOUT NORMS, SOCIAL LAWS AND THEIR MEANING, AND LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM; THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S ROLE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; AND ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF CAUSING JUSTICE (E.G., NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTERS), AND OF DEALING WITH OFFENDERS (E.G., DIVERSION, RETRIBUTION, COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES). (PRG)