NCJ Number
154180
Editor(s)
N Gunningham,
J Norberry,
S McKillop
Date Published
1995
Length
295 pages
Annotation
Proceedings from a conference on "Environmental Crime" focus on the role of criminal law in protecting the environment and the range of other policy instruments capable of complementing, or even replacing criminal law, as part of a broader regulatory mix.
Abstract
The conference speakers and discussions first examined the strengths and weaknesses of the criminal law as a mechanism of environmental protection. They then explored the appropriate role of innovative alternative mechanisms such as self-regulation, environmental audit, information-based strategies, and the role of third parties. Conference papers show a consensus. First, there is a role for the criminal law in environmental protection, but to fulfill this role effectively, the criminal law must be adapted to achieve maximum effect; particularly, it should be adapted to encompass the concept of the "corporate" rather than the individual offender. Secondly, law enforcement will be most effective when the criminal law is used as but one element of a comprehensive system of environmental protection. A range of mechanisms, such as information-based strategies, environmental audit, and third-party enforcement strategies are proposed as other mechanisms that should be used as part of a system of environmental regulation. References, a subject index, and an index to cases