NCJ Number
57638
Date Published
1978
Length
57 pages
Annotation
THE ISSUE OF URBAN CRIME AND SUCH PROGRAMS AS THE LEAA CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED IN THESE STATEMENTS AND SUBMISSION FOR THE RECORD FOR THE HEARING ON URBAN CRIME POLICY.
Abstract
THE HEARING BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STABILIZATION OF THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON MAY 7, 1978. THE FIRST STATEMENT PRESENTED WAS THAT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF KANSAS CITY, MO., WHO REPORTED ON THE INTEGRATED CRIMINAL APPREHENSION PROGRAM (ICAP), A MAJOR INITIATIVE OF LEAA. THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES A METHOD FOR INTEGRATING AND DIRECTING POLICE FIELD ACTIVITIES BASED ON CRIME ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURED PLANNING AND FOCUSES POLICE AND PROSECUTORS' RESOURCES ON CRIME AND CAREER CRIMINALS. THERE ARE TWO ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM: (1) A SOFT PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION; AND (2) A HARD PROGRAM FOCUSED ON THE CRIMINAL, WHEREIN CRIME DATA IS ANALYZED FOR PATTERNS AND TRENDS. THE SECOND STATEMENT, THAT OF THE URBAN POLICY ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY FOR HUD, EMPHASIZED THE INCREASE OF URBAN CRIME; POINTED OUT THAT REPEATERS COMMIT A LARGE PART OF CRIME RATHER THAN ONE-TIME OFFENDERS; POINTED OUT THAT THE LESS SERIOUS THE CRIME, THE GREATER CHANCE THAT AN OFFENDER WILL REPEAT; AND SUPPORTED THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM OF LEAA. THE PRESIDENT OF A PROMINENT POLLING AND SURVEY FIRM PRESENTED THE THIRD STATEMENT; HIS SURVEYS SHOW THAT APPREHENSION IN AMERICA ABOUT CRIME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE APPEARS TO BE DECLINING. HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH LARGE URBAN AREAS ARE LESS FEARFUL, SMALL TOWNS APPEAR TO BE GROWING MORE WORRIED. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE REHABILITATIVE MEASURES IN THE NATIONS' CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THE THIRD AND FOURTH STATEMENTS, BY A PROSECUTING AND A DISTRICT ATTORNEY RESPECTIVELY, SHOWED HEAVY SUPPORT FOR THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAMS, DISCOURAGED THE USE OF PLEA BARGAINING FOR SUCH CRIMINALS, AND DENOUNCED THE CONSTANT DELAYS IN COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE STATEMENTS OF TWO SENATORS SUPPORT THE LEAA PROGRAMS FOR CAREER CRIMINALS, AND TREAT THE ISSUE OF OBTAINING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. PREPARED STATEMENTS ARE INCLUDED, AS ARE THE LETTERS, PAPERS, AND DISCUSSIONS FOLLOWING EACH STATEMENT PRESENTATION. (MHP)