TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE HAVE SHAPED OUR CRIME PROBLEM

• NCJ Number: 47174
• Journal: Center Magazine Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1977) Pages: 33-38
• Author(s): B ECKHARDT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Ctr for the Study of Democratic Institutions
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE CRIME, OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST ADAPT TO AN URBAN, POSTINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY AND STOP PUNISHING INDIVIDUALS FOR BEING POOR.

Abstract

IN DEALING WITH CRIMINALITY, IT SEEMS NECESSARY TO TREAT THREE GENERAL TOPICS: THE UNCHANGING PRINCIPLES WHICH SHOULD UNDERLIE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; THE ASSUMPTIONS WHICH SEEM REASONABLE REGARDING CAUSES OF HUMAN ACTIONS; AND THE CHANGING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WHICH SHOULD INFLUENCE THE WAY IN WHICH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKS. THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED FOR AN AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY, NOT THE PRIVATE SERVICE, POSTINDUSTRIAL ECONOMY OF TODAY. THERE IS A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN PRISON ADMISSIONS AND THE ANNUAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE UNITED STATES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PUNISHES ONE FOR BEING POOR. THE PROBLEMS HERE GO BEYOND SIMPLY THE ISSUE OF BAIL; THEY EXTEND TO ISSUES OF REPRESENTATION, COURT LOADS, DEFENSE RESOURCES, AND MIDDLE CLASS (AND THEREBY HOSTILE) JURIES. THOSE WHO STAY IN JAIL FOR LACK OF BAIL MONEY ARE MORE OFTEN CONVICTED AND WHEN CONVICTED, MORE OFTEN GO TO PRISON AND GET LONGER PRISON SENTENCES THAN DO THOSE WHO MAKE BAIL. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO ADJUST TO THE PROBLEM OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. THOSE PERSONS CONVICTED OF SUCH CRIMES ARE NOT INCARCERATED TO THE SAME EXTENT AS PERSONS CONVICTED OF OTHER OFFENSES. AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL TREND TO CONSIDER IS THE URBAN CONCENTRATION OF THE POPULATION. LAWMAKERS MUST TREAT THE ISSUE OF CRIME INTELLECTUALLY, NOT EMOTIONALLY, AND MUST DEVELOP FAR-REACHING PUBLIC POLICIES. A MORE REALISTIC DEFINITION OF CRIMINALITY MUST BE DEVELOPED. AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH DISCOURAGES CRIME MUST BE PROVIDED, URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS MUST BE MADE STABLE, AND STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS FOSTERED. PRETRIAL, TRIAL, PUNISHMENT, AND REHABILITATION PRACTICES MUST BE CHANGED, THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHITE-COLLAR AND OTHER FORMS OF CRIME EXTINGUISHED, AND CRIMINALS MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIONS. (DJM)