NCJ Number
51708
Date Published
1976
Length
280 pages
Annotation
AN EDITED RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIME, LAW, AND THE COMMUNITY, HELD IN 1975 IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE PURPOSE OF STIMULATING THAT COUNTRY'S INTEREST IN CRIMINOLOGY IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
VARIOUS CRIMINOLOGICAL TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS REPRESENTED BY THE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS; SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO SOUTH AFRICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS. MAIN PAPERS, PAPERS LEADING INTO CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS, AND SUMMARIZED DISCUSSIONS OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS ARE PRESENTED. THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS ARE TREATED: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN A HISTORICAL SETTING; THE OVERREACH OF THE CRIMINAL LAW (CONCERNED WITH 'VICTIMLESS' CRIMES); THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CRIME; TOWARDS A PROPER TRIAL; SENTENCING; THE ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT; THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS; AND THE VICTIM OF CRIME (REGARDING RESTITUTION). COMMENTS BY PARTICIPANTS ON THE OVERALL THRUST OF THE CONFERENCE ARE INCLUDED, AND PAPERS PRESENTED AT A SYMPOSIUM ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ARE PROVIDED. CONCERN WAS FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED OVER THE LATITUDE ALLOWED THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE BY LAW IN DETAINING SUSPECTS INDEFINITELY WITHOUT JUDICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE STATUS OF CHARGES AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE. SOUTH AFRICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANIFESTATIONS OF RACE DISCRIMINATION ARE CONSIDERED. THE LACK OF TRAINING FOR JUDICIAL OFFICERS IN MATTERS OF SENTENCING IS FREQUENTLY MENTIONED AND REMEDIES ARE PROPOSED. THE NARROWNESS OF SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA IS NOTED; THERE IS NO SYSTEM OF ADULT PROBATION, AND PAROLE OF SHORT-TERM OFFENDERS IS UNSUPERVISED. REMEDIES ARE SUGGESTED IN CONFERENCE DISCUSSION MATERIAL. FOR SELECTED PAPERS, SEE NCJ 51709-51723. (RCB)