NCJ Number
14941
Journal
Acta Criminologica Volume: 7 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 169-189
Date Published
1974
Length
21 pages
Annotation
RECENT TRENDS IN CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS, AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRIMINAL LAW IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT, WHILE CRIME RATES IN THE REGION HAVE NOT INCREASED MARKEDLY, THEY ARE CHARACTERIZED BY A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS WHICH MAY INVOLVE SOCIAL VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH HONOR, LAND, EXTRA-MARITAL SEXUAL RELATIONS, AND PERSONAL VENDETTAS. IN GENERAL, OFFICIAL STATISTICS MAY SHOW A LOWER INCIDENCE OF CRIME THAN ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE, BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS IN GATHERING DATA AND BECAUSE OF PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL TOLERANCE REGARDING CERTAIN CRIMES. THE DIFFERENT LEGAL SYSTEMS IN THE AREA ARE BASED ON ISLAMIC, ROMAN, AND ANGLO-SAXON LAW. ISLAMIC CRIMINAL LAW, BASED ON THE KORAN AND APPLIED IN ALL AREAS UNDER ISLAMIC RULE UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, STILL INFLUENCES THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW IN COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE ADOPTED WESTERN LEGAL SYSTEMS. TRAINING OF POLICE AND CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL, AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF POLICE EQUIPMENT AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ARE MENTIONED AS IMPORTANT CURRENT PROBLEMS.