NCJ Number
93602
Date Published
1984
Length
275 pages
Annotation
This study examines the major elements of the administration of justice in Canada: law making, policing, the courts, and corrections.
Abstract
The section on crimes focuses on laws and the social construction of criminal behaviors and the elements of criminal behavior. In the section on policing, the role of the police, elements of police culture, and the relationships between police deployment and the crime rate are explored. Also considered are civil rights and safeguards from abuse. The section that addresses 'justice and status' analyzes the criminal justice system under the metaphor of a 'funnel.' This involves a series of steps of points in a flowchart in the development of criminal cases from the initial investigation and arrest to all the possible outcomes as the cases develop. An alternative view of the criminal justice system considered is under the metaphor of a 'net,' thrown out to capture certain objects. The size of the holes in the netting, the depth to which it is dropped, and the places where it is dropped all affect the kinds of fish taken and the size of the catch. Enforcing the law against deviance in business is discussed as well. Chapters dealing with the courts consider criminal justice processing in the lower and higher courts, along with factors affecting the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Chapters on corrections focus on aspects of deterrence through punishment, correctional services, and the future of Canadian justice. About 400 references and a subject index are provided.