NCJ Number
95882
Date Published
1985
Length
91 pages
Annotation
Representatives from the United Nations, the Italian Government, and four international organizations active in the field of criminal justice present papers on broad criminal justice policy and reform issues.
Abstract
A professor of penal law from Milan University discusses the impact of changing social structures on criminality and instruments of social control, trends toward repressive criminal justice policies, and needed reforms. The Executive Secretary of the Congress then examines United Nations involvement in criminal justice matters, the criminal justice system in the context of its social environment, and the administration of justice. The report from the International Association of Penal Law focuses on development and the criminal justice system; new forms of criminality; comparative criminology; and a systems analysis of the criminal justice system with attention to its characteristics, relationships between policy and processes, and impact of procedural norms. The report of the International Society for Criminology explores the implications of major social change for penal policy and crime control, considering the growing interdependence of states, revolution of organizational life, social science revolution, changing status of age, and the growth of individual rights. The evolution of criminal law, the need for more data on penal systems and its transmission to the public, and penal reforms are discussed in the report of the International Society of Social Defense. Finally, a spokesman for the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation criticizes the themes selected by the Congress and highlights the Foundations' concerns regarding penal reform. A summary report of the Congress is provided. Most papers include references.