NCJ Number
169190
Date Published
1997
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the views of member states of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice regarding the utility of formulating draft minimum rules for the administration of criminal justice, the utility of convening an expert group to review the draft minimum rules, and specific areas in which an expert group could consider making changes to the draft minimum rules.
Abstract
In pursuance of Economic and Social Council resolution 1994/17, Commission resolution 4/7, and Commission decision 5/101, over a period of 3 years of inquiries 69 replies have been received from 52 member states. Several states have provided more than one reply, giving updated information on the administration of criminal justice and comments on the draft minimum rules. An overall assessment of the most recent replies from 13 states and previous replies indicates that a general trend toward promulgating common minimum rules for the administration of criminal justice (criminal proceedings) has apparently emerged. Thirty-nine of 51 states seem to be either directly or indirectly in favor of the proposal to formulate such minimum rules; and six states, although not expressing a clear opinion, stated that their national legislation was in line or basically compatible with the draft minimum rules. Five states had reservations, and one had serious doubts about the matter. The convening of a group of experts to review the draft minimum rules, giving attention to aspects of legal procedure and associated problems pertaining to the different legal systems, was generally viewed as a desirable solution, especially if extrabudgetary funds could be made available for that purpose. A table summarizes the positions of member states regarding the draft minimum rules for the administration of criminal justice as reflected in the replies received as of February 20, 1997.