NCJ Number
66751
Date Published
1979
Length
153 pages
Annotation
THIS CANADIAN TEXT ARGUES THAT FALSE, UNREASONING FEAR HAS CREATED A FORTRESS MENTALITY AND THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SHOULD BRING THE COMMUNITY BACK INTO THE CREATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.
Abstract
DRAWING ON CONTEMPORARY CANADIAN CASES, INCLUDING THE MURDER OF 12-YEAR-OLD EMANUEL JAQUES, THE TEXT OUTLINES PROBLEMS ENGENDERED BY A TREMENDOUS PUBLIC FEAR OF CRIME, OVERCROWDED COURTS, ANGRY CRIME VICTIMS, MILITANT AND DISILLUSIONED POLICE FORCES, AND VIOLENT PRISONS. IT PORTRAYS A DIVIDED CANADIAN PUBLIC WHICH IS CONFUSED ABOUT CRIME, UNWILLING TO TAKE ON SOME OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, AND UNSURE ABOUT WHAT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD BE. INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS DESCRIBE THE ASSEMBLY-LINE QUALITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT MOVES WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE VICTIMS; THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY A SYSTEM THAT TREATS THE CRIME BUT NOT THE VICTIM'S NEEDS; AND THE FRUSTRATION OF POLICE WHO SEE THEIR CASES DISMISSED AND THEIR WORK MADE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX BY HEIGHTENED PUBLIC DEMANDS. IN ADDITION, THE CANADIAN PRISONS, WHICH HOLD 20,000 ADULT OFFENDERS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, ARE DESCRIBED AS TRAINING GROUNDS FOR VIOLENT CRIMINALS RATHER THAN PLACES OF REFORM. OTHER CHAPTERS DISCUSS AN EXPERIMENT WHERE THE COMMUNITY SUBSTITUTED FOR PRISON, THE IMPACT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROCEDURES ON THE YOUNG, AND THE ISSUE OF WHETHER COURTS SHOULD HANDLE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES OF JUSTICE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL LAW REQUIRE ONGOING POLITICAL EXAMINATION. NOTES FOR EACH CHAPTER ARE GIVEN. (AOP)