NCJ Number
61602
Editor(s)
J M HAWES
Date Published
1979
Length
184 pages
Annotation
THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM--COURTS, POLICE, PRISONS, CRIMINAL LAW--IS EXAMINED IN A COLLECTION OF READINGS USING A VARIETY OF HISTORICAL APPROACHES.
Abstract
THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN CRIMINAL LAW IS TRACED, OUTLINING SOME OF THE MAJOR CHANGES IN CRIMINAL STATUTES AND THEIR APPLICATION. FOCUSING ON POVERTY, PAUPERISM, AND SOCIAL ORDER IN THE PREINDUSTRIAL AMERICAN CITY FROM 1780 TO 1840, A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK BORROWED FROM SOCIOLOGY, 'THE SOCIAL ORDER,' HELPS EXPLAIN EVENTS IN AMERICAN CITIES DURING THIS PERIOD. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST PENITENTIARY SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY IS DESCRIBED, AND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE AUBURN AND PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEMS OF PRISON DISCIPLINE ARE DISCUSSED. BY ANALYZING THE CHILD-SAVING MOVEMENT AT THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY, THE ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE REVEALED, AND INSIGHT IS PROVIDED REGARDING THE IDEOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THAT SYSTEM. THE ROLE OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS IN DETERMINING POLICE RESPONSE TO JUVENILE BEHAVIOR IS EXAMINED, REVEALING THE IMPORTANT INFLUENCE COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS OF YOUTH HAVE ON POLICE HANDLING OF JUVENILES. OTHER ARTICLES TRACE THE RISE AND FALL OF THE POLICEWOMAN'S MOVEMENT FROM 1905-1975, ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR POLICE REFORM TO MEET THE URBAN CRISIS, THE KEFAUVER COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZED CRIME, AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE FROM 1960 TO 1975 ON RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE HISTORY. NOTES AND SOME TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)