NCJ Number
64585
Date Published
1979
Length
108 pages
Annotation
LAW, ORDER, AND JUSTICE IN THE U.S. ARE ANALYZED, AND QUESTIONS ARE RAISED CONCERNING THE FURTHER STUDY OF CRIME, THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED, AND THE ROLE OF THE POLICE.
Abstract
THE BOOK INCLUDES CASE STUDIES TO SHOW THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN THESE ISSUES; FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND LEGAL RIGHTS; DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THE ISSUES; AND FUTURISTIC IDEAS TO CONSIDER AS POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF CITIZENS' DECISIONS ABOUT CRIME, LAW, AND JUSTICE. THROUGH THE USE OF NEWS CLIPPINGS, FICTIONAL VIGNETTES, SUPREME COURT RULINGS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS, STUDENTS ARE ASSISTED IN UNDERSTANDING CONFLICTING VIEWPOINTS AND IN DEALING WITH THOSE CONFLICTS IN AN INFORMED MANNER. SPECIFIC ISSUES CONSIDERED INCLUDED THE NATURE OF CRIME, THE ACCURACY OF CRIME RATE STATISTICS, HOW THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DEALS WITH CRIME, AND HOW CRIME AFFECTS THE INDIVIDUAL. DUE PROCESS, THE POWERS OF THE POLICE, MIRANDA RIGHTS, ARREST, GUN CONTROL, PLEA BARGAINING, THE DEATH PENALTY, AND THE PROSECUTOR'S ROLE ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. BASIC CONFLICTS INHERENT IN OUR SYSTEM ARE EMPHASIZED, INCLUDING THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY VERSUS THE PROTECTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THE CONCEPTS OF ORDER AND JUSTICE ARE RELATED DIRECTLY TO THEIR IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ROSENBERG EXECUTIONS GRAPHICALLY REPORTS THE REALITY OF DEATH IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR, THUS BRINGING MORE MEANING TO STRICTLY THEORETICAL DEATH PENALTY ISSUES. SKETCHES, PHOTOGRAPHS, EXHIBITS, AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LWM).