ACCOUNTABILITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION (FROM AUSTRALIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM, 2D ED., 1977, BY DUNCAN CHAPPELL AND PAUL WILSON - SEE NCJ-50316)

• NCJ Number: 50334
• Author(s): P A SALLMANN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Butterworth
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC, THE VICTIM, THE OFFENDER, AND BETWEEN ITS OWN AGENCIES IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THE PUBLIC IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE TO REPORT RELIABLY ON CRIME STATISTICS AND CLEARANCE RATES, THE COURTS TO REPORT ON STATISTICS REGARDING THE PROCESSING OF CASES, AND THE PRISON SYSTEM TO INDICATE ITS GOALS AND EFFECTIVENESS IN ACHIEVING THEM. ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THE VICTIM IS DISCUSSED IN THE AREAS OF CONTINUED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VICTIMS AND THE POLICE AND COURTS IN TERMS OF THE PROGRESS OF THE CASES IN WHICH THEY ARE INVOLVED, VICTIM COMPENSATION, AND THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL TOWARD VICTIMS OF CERTAIN OFFENSES, PARTICULARLY RAPE. THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THE OFFENDER IS DISCUSSED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: POLICE HANDLING, QUESTIONING, AND INTERROGATION OF SUSPECTS; THE COURT'S HANDLING OF THE PRESENTENCE REPORT AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO SENTENCING; THE OPERATION OF THE PAROLE BOARD; AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL OFFENDER IN THE PROCESS OF REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS. THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AGENCIES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO ONE ANOTHER IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION WHICH ENABLES EACH AGENCY OF THE SYSTEM TO FUNCTION IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN PARTICULAR CASES BY OTHER AGENCIES. (RCB)