NCJ Number
168377
Date Published
1994
Length
46 pages
Annotation
A summit on crime and violence was hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA) in January 1994 in Washington, DC, to focus attention on the importance of criminal justice reform, violence prevention, and the proper treatment of offenders.
Abstract
The summit opened with remarks from the ABA president, and distinguished guest speakers included the Deputy Attorney General, the Surgeon General, and the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Summit panels addressed crime and violence in the United States, the epidemic of violence, children at risk, thinking smart about sentencing and corrections, and gun-related violence. Summit participants concluded that educational programs to promote violence prevention awareness, such as peer mediation and dropout prevention, should be adopted; that alternatives to incarceration, such as the Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime program and drug courts, should be considered; and that the Federal Government should accept the role of financier and information broker rather than pass "quick fix" legislation. The clear consensus of participants was to aggressively pursue comprehensive criminal justice system improvements in every State. Appendixes contain additional information on new directions for the criminal justice system and on the summit program and participants.