NCJ Number
28911
Date Published
1975
Length
189 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR PRESENTS HIS EXPLANATION OF HOW THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE JUDICIAL PROCESS INTERRELATE AND WHY THE INDIVIDUALS MOST AFFECTED BY THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE DO NOT TRUST THE SYSTEM.
Abstract
CONVINCED THAT THE CRIME RATE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE UNLESS THERE IS REAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICE, THE AUTHOR ANALYZES THE PARTICULAR HOSTILITY OF MINORITY GROUPS AND THE POOR TOWARD THE POLICE AS WELL AS THE DILEMMA OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE BOUND TO GIVE ORDERS GENERATED FROM ABOVE. PART ONE OF THIS BOOK PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE MANNER IN WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE OPERATED HISTORICALLY AND STILL OPERATE AT THE PRESENT TIME. DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE DISCLOSES THE NEGLECT AND THE ABUSE OF MINORITY CITIZENS BY LAW OFFICERS-PHYSICAL BRUTALITY, SUBTLE MISCONDUCT, AND/OR INSTITUTIONAL SENSITIVITY AS CHARACTERIZED BY INADEQUATE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES. PART TWO EXAMINES THE ROLE OF THE COURT SYSTEM, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OR MISREPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL, THE EXCLUSION OF MINORITY PEERS FROM THE JURY, AND CLAIMS OF DISCRIMINATORY JAIL SENTENCES AND UNFAIR BAIL BOND PROCEDURES. PART THREE FOCUSES ON THE POLICE OFFICER HIMSELF AND ON THE ASSUMPTIONS AND CONCEPTS FROM WHICH AN OFFICER DERIVES HIS LEGITIMACY. THE AUTHOR ALSO EXAMINES THE CONDITION OF THE POLICE OFFICER AS A MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTIONAL 'BLUE MINORITY' THE PROBLEMS OF POLICE TRAINING AND SUPERVISION, AND THE NEED FOR PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF THE POLICE. THE FINAL CHAPTER PRESENTS A MODEL FOR A JOINT POLICE-COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)