SAN FRANCISCO - NON-VICTIM CRIME REPORT - PART 1, NON-VICTIM CRIME IN SAN FRANCISCO - PART 1 - BASIC PRINCIPLES, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS

• NCJ Number: 38
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 53 pages
• Grant Number(s): OLEA-374
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: San Francisco Cmtte on Crime
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE SAN FRANCISCO COMMITTEE ON CRIME HAS THE DUTY OF REPORTING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMICAL SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL LAW.

Abstract

PREVIOUS REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE HAVE EXAMINED HOW LAWS ARE CURRENTLY ENFORCED AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE IN ENFORCEMENT. THE PRESENT REPORT ASKS MORE BASIC QUESTIONS. IT ASKS WHY AND HOW FAR CERTAIN LAWS SHOULD BE ENFORCED, WHY THEY SHOULD EVEN EXIST. THIS REPORT TENDS TO BE PHILOSOPHICAL--BUT TO THE END OF BEING HIGHLY PRACTICAL. DRUNKENNESS IS CONSIDERED FIRST BECAUSE IT IS AN OBJECT LESSON. KNOWING OPINION HAS COME TO RECOGNIZE THAT DRUNKENNESS MUST NOT BE HANDLED AS IT HAS BEEN, ALTHOUGH THE METHOD OF HANDLING IT IS STILL IN A STATE OF TRANSITION. MANY PEOPLE DEAL WITH IT AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM, AND THE CRIME COMMITTEE APPROVES THAT CONCEPT. WITHOUT THE EXPENSE OF ATTEMPTS AT COMPLETE MEDICAL REHABILITATION AND CURE, DRUNKENESS SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS ENTIRELY. NOT INCLUDED IN THE USE OF THE TERM DRUNKENNESS IS THE STATE OF BEING DRUNK IN AN AUTOMOBILE OR THE ACT OF DRIVING WHILE DRUNK. THOSE ARE CONDITIONS CONTAINING A STRONG PROBABILITY OF INJURING OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY OUGHT TO BE HELD CRIMINAL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)