NCJ Number
54651
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
CRIME PREVENTION IS CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO RESEARCH ON CAUSES OF CRIME, THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, JUVENILE CRIME, MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES, PLEA BARGAINING, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM.
Abstract
CRIMES OF VIOLENCE ARE LOCAL IN NATURE AND, THEREFORE, SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. CITIZENS CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CRIME PREVENTION, PARTICULARLY THROUGH BLOCK CRIME CONTROL PROGRAMS IN SUBURBAN AREAS. PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN GEORGIA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH IMPROVED APPROACHES IN CRIME PREVENTION, ENFORCEMENT, TRIALS, SENTENCES, PROBATION, PAROLE, CORRECTIONS, THE COURT SYSTEM, AND RELATED FIELDS. THE STATE'S SYSTEM HAS ALSO BEEN IMPROVED BY ALLOWING JUDGES INSTEAD OF JURIES TO FIX SENTENCE LENGTH. PANEL REVIEWS BY TRIAL JUDGES OF IMPOSED SENTENCES HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED AS WELL. RESEARCH ON CAUSES OF VIOLENT CRIMES IS NEEDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT THE MAJOR DIFFICULTY IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT BUREAURACY HAS NOT PLACED SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY IN ONE AGENCY TO ORGANIZE AND AUTHORIZE RESEARCH PROJECTS. AN ADVISORY CORRECTIONS COUNCIL CREATED BY CONGRESS IN 1950 NO LONGER EXISTS. SINCE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CHANGES FREQUENTLY, THERE IS NO CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR BUDGETARY CONSIDERATION OF NATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. RESEARCH AT THE STATE LEVEL SHOULD BE DEVOTED ESSENTIALLY TO LOCAL PROBLEMS. JUVENILE CRIME RATES CONSTITUTE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN OVERALL CRIME, AND REASONS FOR JUVENILE CRIMES INCLUDE CHANGES IN FAMILY STRUCTURE WHERE MOTHERS WORK AND CHILDREN DO NOT RECEIVE PROPER PARENTAL GUIDANCE, SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN HANDICAPPED BY COURT DECISIONS REGARDING DISCIPLINE, AND THE FAILURE OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH CHILDREN WHO LACK PARENTAL GUIDANCE. MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES ARE NOT FAVORED AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DETERRENCE. PLEA BARGAINING, HOWEVER, IS JUSTIFIED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: DEFENDANTS KNOW PRECISELY WHAT THEIR SENTENCES WILL BE; PLEA BARGAINING WILL RESULT IN A DECREASED NUMBER OF POSTCONVICTION HEARINGS; THE ENTRY OF A PLEA OF GUILTY WILL BE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD REHABILITATION; THE ADVERSARY SYSTEM WILL BE IMPROVED; AND PLEA BARGAINING WILL SHORTEN THE TIME UNTIL DEFENDANTS ARE RELEASED. PROBATION AND PAROLE ARE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN REPETITIVE COURT PROCEEDINGS. CRIME PREVENTION CAN BE EFFECTIVE IF LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES, THE COURTS, AND STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE BODIES JOINTLY ENACT AND ENFORCE EFFECTIVE STATUTES. (DEP)