NCJ Number
47667
Editor(s)
RD CRELINGSTEN,
D LABERGE-ALTMEJDSZABO D
Date Published
1976
Length
260 pages
Annotation
WORKING PAPERS ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF TERRORISM FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION ARE PRESENTED; SPECIFIC COUNTRY ANALYSIS IS PROVIDED.
Abstract
THE CONFERENCE DELIBERATIONS FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING MAIN TOPICS: (1) ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES AND TACTICS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION; (2) PROBLEMS OF JUDICIAL PROCESSING AND SENTENCING; (3) INSTITUTIONALIZATION AS A MEANS OF COPING WITH POLITICAL TERRORISTS; AND (4) THE ROLE OF LEGISLATION AND CRIMINAL LAW. THE FIRST SESSION DISCUSSED THE SOCIOPOLITICAL ROOTS OF TERRORISM AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS FACED IN COPING WITH TERRORIST VIOLENCE. IN THE SHORT RUN, DEGLORIFICATION AND DEDRAMATIZATION OF THE TERRORIST WAS RECOMMENDED. IN THE LONG RUN, OPENING THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS BETWEEN DIVERSE ELEMENTS OF SOCIETY, INVOLVING THE MEDIA, AND USING PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT TERRORISM WOULD INVOLVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE DETERRENT MODEL OF CRIME CONTROL WAS FOUND TO BE INEFFECTIVE WHEN APPLIED TO TERRORISM. THE SECOND SESSION EMPHASIZED JUDICIAL PROCESSING AND SENTENCING AND HOW IT CAN MAINTAIN FAIR JUSTICE UNDER DIFFERENT CONTEXTS AND UNDER DIFFERENT PRESSURES EXERTED ON THE COURT SYSTEM. THE THIRD SESSION DEALT WITH THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS THE TERRORIST POSES TO CORRECTION OFFICIALS BECAUSE OF POLITICAL ORIENTATION. HOWEVER, SPECIAL TREATMENT ONLY COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM OF TRYING TO DEGLORIFY TERRRORIST ACTS. THE FOURTH SESSION FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEMS OF LEGISLATION AFFECTING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PROSECUTION OR EXTRADITION. THE DIFFICULTIES OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WERE HIGHLIGHTED, ESPECIALLY REGARDING INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS WHICH SO FAR HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE. THE CONSENSUS OF THE CONFERENCE WAS THAT THE CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM MUST BE FACED WITHOUT GENERATING THE EROSION OF LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND THAT, ALTHOUGH IMPERFECT, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS FOR COPING WITH THE PROBLEM. THE APPENDIXES DESCRIBE THE NATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF BELGIUM, WEST GERMANY, FINLAND, FRANCE, NORTHERN IRELAND, AND SWEDEN IN HANDLING TERRORISM. A PAPER ON SOME PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS FOR THE SESSION ON INSTITUTIONALIZATION AS A MEANS FOR COPING WITH POLITICAL TERRORISTS, THE PROGRAM, AND A LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ARE APPENDED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED FOR THE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ONLY. (JSP)