NCJ Number
106713
Editor(s)
B Szumski
Date Published
1981
Length
216 pages
Annotation
Articles presenting opposing viewpoints on various criminal justice issues address the fairness of the criminal justice system, the litigation crisis, rights of the accused, crime victims' rights, and attorney ethics.
Abstract
Articles pertaining to the fairness of the criminal justice system consider whether the criminal justice system should focus on punishment or social inequity, whether the criminal justice system favors offenders, and the effectiveness of the adversarial and jury systems. Six articles on the litigation crisis consider whether Americans are overly litigious, whether liability suits are justified, and whether they protect or harm the consumer. Four articles consider whether the legal system's emphasis on the rights of the accused has undermined justice, with particular attention to the Miranda rule. In considering whether the criminal justice system should enforce crime victims' rights, six articles consider whether victims need more legal rights, whether victims' rights may undermine justice, and whether victims' rights laws exploit the victim. Articles on attorney ethics examine attorneys' ethics in fee charging and the representation of criminal defendants. List of organizations concerned with the debated issues, 14-item periodical bibliography, 25-item book bibliography, and subject index.