TWO MILLION UNNECESSARY ARRESTS - REMOVING A SOCIAL SERVICE CONCERN FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 1978
• Author(s): R T NIMMER
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 202 pages
• Sale Source: American Bar Foundation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

POLICY, PRACTICE AND FACILITIES SHOULD BE ALTERED TO REDUCE THE ROLE OF CRIMINAL LAW WHILE IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HANDLING THE SKID ROW POPULATION.

Abstract

ECONOMIC MARGINALITY IS COMMONLY CITED AS THE PRIMARY FACTOR IN SKID ROW DEVIANCY. THE AUTHOR PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE CONCERNING SKID-ROW. CHICAGO AND NEW YORK ARREST-PROSECUTION PROCEDURES ARE DISCUSSED. POLICE-INITIATED DETOXIFICATION SYSTEMS IN ST. LOUIS AND WASHINGTON ARE SURVEYED SINCE THE POLICE-INITIATED MODEL IS THE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED REFORM FORMAT. THE VERA INSTITUTE PROGRAM ON NEW YORK'S BOWERY IS CONSIDERED INTERESTING BECAUSE IT RECOGNIZES THE SERVICE PROBLEM AS A SKID ROW ISSUE AND BECAUSE IT AVOIDS THE USE OF UNIFORMED POLICE TO REMOVE PATIENTS FROM THE STREETS. POLICY IMPLICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED.