TRUTH, ABSURDITY AND HUMOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (FROM SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ON CORRECTIONS - ANNUAL 22ND MARCH 2-4, 1977 - PROCEEDINGS, BY VERNON FOX SEE NCJ-43422)

• NCJ Number: 58462
• Author(s): D H CHANG; R G IACOVETTA
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

FOCUSING ON THE ABSURDITIES AND HUMOR IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE PARADOXES, INCONSISTENCIES, AND FRAGMENTATIONS OF THE POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

IT IS UNLIKELY THAT A CENTRALIZED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BE DEVELOPED IN THIS COUNTRY IN SPITE OF THE ADVANTAGES. THE PRESENT SYSTEM, NO MATTER HOW FRAGMENTED OR INEFFICIENT, WILL GO ON OPERATING. EACH COMPONENT OF THE SYSTEM WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN A VACUUM WITH LITTLE COORDINATION OR UNDERSTANDING OF THE OTHER COMPONENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE UNITED STATES, UNLIKE THAT OF MANY NATIONS OF THE WORLD, JUDGES, AT ALL LEVELS, ENJOY AWESOME POWER. YET, WHEN IT COMES TO IMPOSING SENTENCES, MOST JUDGES HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN THE INSTITUTIONS TO WHICH THEY SENTENCE PEOPLE. IN FACT, 95 PERCENT OF ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES HAVE NEITHER BEEN INSIDE A PRISON NOR UNDERSTAND ITS OPERATIONS. THE ISSUE OF CONJUGAL VISITS FOR PRISONERS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ILLOGIC OF THE SYSTEM. WHILE IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT HOMOSEXUAL RAPE IS A PROBLEM IN PRISONS, OFFICALS DENY PRISONERS THE RIGHT TO SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH THEIR WIVES OR GIRLFRIENDS. IT IS ILLOGICAL TO LOOK FOR SINGLE CAUSATIVE FACTORS OF CRIME, WHETHER IT BE THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM OR THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM IN PRODUCING CRIME. YET, OF THE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS EACH YEAR, SOME USEFUL MATERIAL MAY BE GAINED. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED (KCP)