NCJ Number
14613
Editor(s)
I SILVER
Date Published
1974
Length
157 pages
Annotation
ARTICLES CRITICALLY EXAMINING FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THEIR ROLES IN DEFINING AND PURSUING 'CRIME' AND 'CRIMINALS'.
Abstract
THE EDITOR OF THIS COLLECTION OF ARTICLES AND EXCERPTS FROM PUBLISHED BOOKS STATES THAT THE THESIS OF THIS WORK IS THAT THERE EXISTS A SPECIFIC COMBINATION OF MEN AND AGENCIES (MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH THE SUBJECT OF 'CRIME CONTROL') WHOSE ACTIVITIES SUBSTANTIALLY SHAPE PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD CRIME. ALSO, THESE AGENCIES HAVE THE POLITICAL CAPABILITY TO TRANSFORM THEIR VIEWS ABOUT 'CRIME' AND 'CRIME CONTROL' INTO LAW AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT. HISTORY, BOTH RECENT AND LONG-RANGE, DEMONSTRATES THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED TO CERTAIN NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY TO FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AS AUTHORITATIVE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CONTINUES THOSE INSTITUTIONS HAVE FUNCTIONED AS CONTINUING SOURCES OF INFLUENCE UPON CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE TO CREATE NEW 'CRIMES' AND NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT 'ANTI-CRIME' WEAPONS. AS CRIME BECOMES A NATIONAL CONCERN, AS FEDERAL JURISDICTION EXPANDS, AS FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INCREASINGLY COOPERATE TO 'FIGHT' CRIME, THE INFLUENCE OF THESE AGENCIES WILL ONLY INCREASE. CLEARLY, THEY ARE THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE CRIME-CONTROL ESTABLISHMENT. THE SELECTIONS CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE FBI, THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION. ALSO CRITIQUED ARE NON-FEDERAL POLICE AND PROSECUTION AGENCIES AND THE 'ASSEMBLY-LINE' PROCESS OF PLEA BARGAINING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)