NCJ Number
48825
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS PANEL DISCUSSION ADDRESSES THE PROBLEMS FACING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND POSSIBLE CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE TO ENABLE IT TO FUNCTION IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER.
Abstract
THE GENERAL CONSENSUS OF THE PANEL OF SEVERAL EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CRIME RATE. THE COURTS HAVE FAILED IN THEIR EFFORT TO BE PROMPT, EFFICIENT, AND FAIR. HOWEVER, NO PART OF THE SYSTEM WILL TAKE THE BLAME FOR ITS INEFFICIENCIES AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DELUDES ITSELF BY CLAIMING THAT IT IS ABLE TO STOP CRIME. PERHAPS MORE PROGRESS IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT MAY HELP TO STOP STREET CRIME. THE FACT THAT THE LEVEL OF POVERTY HAS DECLINED, BUT THE CRIME RATE HAS NOT DECLINED ALONG WITH IT HAS RAISED SOME DOUBT ABOUT THE MOVEMENT TOWARD SOCIETAL REFORM AS A WEAPON FOR REDUCING CRIME. VIOLENT CRIME IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CITIES, WHERE RESIDENTIAL DESEGREGATION AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES MAY HELP TO REDUCE THE CRIME RATE. IT IS THE VIEW OF ONE MEMBER OF THE PANEL THAT MINIMUM MANDATORY SENTENCES TAKE AWAY ANY CHOICE THAT THE JUDGE HAS FOR SENTENCING AN OFFENDER. OTHER NEEDS OF THE SYSTEM INCLUDE ADEQUATE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, SEPARATION OF THE PRISONERS ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF OFFENSE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE SYSTEM. POLITICIZATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MEDIA GLORIFICATION OF VIOLENCE SHOULD BE CURBED. THE INJUSTICES OF THE COURT SYSTEM HAVE CREATED ALIENATION OF ONE GROUP OF SOCIETY, BUT MERELY CORRECTING THESE WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS PANEL HAS SHOWN THAT THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS IS NOT VERY EASY TO FIND. (BAC)