LAW AS SYMBOL - THE LACK OF IMPACT OF A MASSACHUSETTS DRUG DIVERSION STATUTE

• NCJ Number: 34913
• Author(s): P M TEITELBAUM
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 347 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-NI-99-1062
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: HARVARD UNIVERSITY - DISSERTATION

Annotation

SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PASSAGE, IMPLEMENTATION, AND IMPACT OF THE CRIMINAL PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 889 OF THE ACTS OF 1969 OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS WHICH PROVIDED VOLUNTARY DIVERSION FOR ADDICTS BEFORE TRIAL.

Abstract

ONE PART OF THE RESEARCH FOCUSED ON THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF CHAPTER 889 THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS TO DETERMINE THE LEGISLATURE'S REAL INTENT IN PASSING IT. AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF THE LAW WAS UNDERTAKEN IN FOUR BOSTON-AREA LOWER COURTS WHERE TREATMENT OF DRUG OFFENDERS BEFORE AND AFTER PASSAGE OF THE LAW WAS ASCERTAINED. ORGANIZATION THEORY, UTILITY THEORY, AND MODELS OF COURT OPERATION WERE APPLIED TO THE FINDINGS ON COURT COMPLIANCE AND ADDICT USE OF THE LAW. THE STATUTE'S INTENT AND PASSAGE WERE ANALYZED IN TERMS OF THE SYMBOLIC FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDED THAT THE PROVISIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION WERE A NATURAL OUTCOME OF WHAT SHE FEELS WERE THE PURELY SYMBOLIC PURPOSES OF ITS PASSAGE.