RICH PAY A FINE, THE POOR GO TO JAIL - A SOCIOLOGY OF THE LAW

• NCJ Number: 3297
• Author(s): B HAYDEN; W E BURGER; S DASH; G SYKES; W SCHAEFER
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 0 pages
• Sale Source: Ctr for the Study of Democratic Institutions
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. 27 MINUTES AND 18 SECONDS TAPE ON FIVE INCH REEL, 3 3/4 IPS, HALF-TRACK

Annotation

THIS AUDIOTAPE PRESENTS A PANEL DISCUSSION CONCERNING INEQUALITIES IN THE LAW AND ITS PROCESSES WITH RESPECT TO THE RICH AND THE POWERLESS - PREVENTIVE LAW IS SUGGESTED AS, AT LEAST, A PARTIAL REMEDY.

Abstract

THE PANELISTS ADDRESS A NUMBER OF RELATED ISSUES. CRIME COULD BE ELIMINATED IN OUR CITIES IF, FOR INSTANCE, THERE WERE A POLICEMAN ON EVERY CORNER. THIS WOULD RESULT IN A POLICE STATE. CRIME, THEN, IS PART OF THE PRICE OF A FREE SOCIETY. THE USE OF POLICE DISCRETION IS LINKED TO THE UNWILLINGNESS OF MANY POOR DEFENDANTS TO BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL. THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR IMPOTENCE AND CONCLUDE, OFTEN CORRECTLY, THAT THEY CAN WORK OUT A BETTER DEAL FOR THEMSELVES BY CREATING LITTLE OR NO LEGAL HASSLE. OVER HALF OF ALL CASES THAT GO TO COURT ARE ALCOHOL RELATED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEM. MENTAL ILLNESS, ALCOHOLISM, AND ETC. SHOULD BE REFERRED TO MORE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES. THE PREVENTIVE LAW CONCEPT SHOULD ENCOMPASS DOMESTIC RELATIONS COUNSELING, CONSUMER BUYING EDUCATION, IMPROVED URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, AND A COMPLETELY REWORKED SYSTEM OF URBAN MASS TRANSPORTATION. IN CLOSING, THE QUESTION IS RAISED AS TO WHETHER THE LEGAL SYSTEM SERVES AN EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION OR WHETHER IT SIMPLY PERPETUATES THE PROBLEM IT WAS CREATED TO ELIMINATE....PO