NCJ Number
89738
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The discussion focuses on India's crime problem, the constitutional basis of the criminal justice system, the role of the central government and criminal justice system agencies in addressing crime, diversion, and conflicting demands on the criminal justice system.
Abstract
Crime has increased in India in recent years, and it is imperative that the criminal justice system operate at top form if it is not to be overwhelmed by the huge crime problem. The basic principles of the criminal justice system are derived from the Constitution. The Constitution designates the States to be primarily responsible for crime control, while the central government's role is confined to such areas as providing financial and technical assistance, legislation, collection and dissemination of statistics, training, research, etc. The police have been hampered in their work by inadequate manpower and legal procedural and administrative difficulties. Steps have been taken by the central and State governments to deal with these issues. The most important problem for the courts is the inordinate delay of cases, and jail conditions are dismal. Through the use of a law commission efforts are being made to achieve legislative reform that will faciliatate dealing more effectively with the crime problem. Direction for reform has been complicated by a debate over whether the criminal justice system is too lenient in its dealing with offenders or too repressive in its interventions in the lives of citizens; diversion is a case in point. It relieves the criminal justice system of many of its processing and custodial burdens, but many citizens consider it a too lenient treatment of offenders.