NCJ Number
50970
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE AND CONTENT OF A BOOK OFFERING AN OVERVIEW OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AUSTRALIA ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO CONTEMPORARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN THAT COUNTRY.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION TOUCHES ON PUBLIC CONCERN WITH CRIME IN AUSTRALIA, THE LACK OF FACTUAL INFORMATION ON CRIME, PROBLEMS IN GATHERING CRIME STATISTICS, AND THE DEBATE OVER VICTIMLESS CRIMES. THE MEANING OF THE WORD 'CRIME' IS CONSIDERED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE OBSERVATION THAT CRIME IS A FLUID CONCEPT FOR WHICH MEANINGS VARY FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND FROM TIME TO TIME. EVIDENCE OF INCREASING CRIMINALITY AMONG YOUNG MALES AND AMONG FEMALES IN AUSTRALIA IS CITED. THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION OF CRIMINOLOGY IS OFFERED: THE STUDY OF THE DEFINITION AND MEASUREMENT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND THE FUNCTIONING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, COURT, AND CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS. IT IS EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS NO ONE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA. EACH OF THE SIX STATES HAS A COMPLETE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS DOES THE NORTHERN TERRITORY. THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY HAS ITS OWN POLICE FORCE AND COURT SYSTEM BUT ONLY SOME CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A POLICE FORCE AND SPECIAL COURTS BUT NO CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. THUS, THERE ARE SEVEN COMPLETE, AND TWO INCOMPLETE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA, MADE UP OF NINE POLICE FORCES AND COURT ADMINISTRATIONS AND SEVEN CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. EACH JURISDICTION IS ESSENTIALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE OTHER. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT AUSTRALIA COULD PROVIDE A NATURAL SOCIAL SCIENCE LABORATORY IN WHICH TO COMPARE THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES ON A RELATIVELY HOMOGENEOUS POPULATION. THE PREDICTION THAT BY 1977-78 CRIME COSTS IN AUSTRALIA WOULD EXCEED $1,200 MILLION IS CITED AS ONE REASON FOR TAKING THE SUBJECT OF CRIME AND JUSTICE IN AUSTRALIA SERIOUSLY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)