NCJ Number
64520
Editor(s)
C H FOUST,
D R WEBSTER
Date Published
1980
Length
339 pages
Annotation
ORIENTED TOWARDS THE INDIANA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PRESENTATIONS AT A NATIONAL COLLOQUIUM DISCUSS CRIME PREVENTION, THE CRIMINAL PROCESS, DISPOSITION, AND RESEARCH EFFORTS.
Abstract
A DISCUSSION OF MORALITY AND THE LAW NOTES THAT POVERTY BREEDS CRIME AND EMPHASIZES THAT SOCIAL REFORM IS THE ONLY EFFECTIVE MEANS OF CURTAILING CRIME. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME IS CONSIDERED, AND SOME TENTATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANPOWER FIELD ARE PRESENTED. A PAPER ON BRAIN MECHANISMS AND CRIME EXPLAINS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEURAL SYSTEMS AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, NOTING BRAIN DYSFUNCTIONS RELATING TO AGGRESSION, VARIABLES THAT INFLUENCE AGGRESSION THRESHOLDS (I.E., HEREDITY, BLOOD CHEMISTRY, ALLERGIES), AND FACTORS INVOLVED IN CONTROLLING AGGRESSION. ONE DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON THE POLICE AS POLICYMAKERS AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS IN CRIMINAL CASES. IMPLICATIONS OF DETERRENCE AND INCAPACITATION RESEARCH FOR POLICY EVALUATION ARE ALSO EXAMINED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR FURTHER STATISTICAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUNISHMENT AS AN INHIBITOR TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. OTHER TOPICS ADDRESSED INCLUDE THE NEW INDIANA SENTENCING CODE, PUNITIVE SENTENCES, CRIME VICTIMS, A PROPOSAL FOR JAIL REFORM, COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS, AND PROBATION AND PAROLE. FINALLY, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL PROMOTE LAWFUL, SAFE, AND INDUSTRIOUS PRISONS ARE PRESENTED, ALONG WITH SOME FUTURE PERSPECTIVES IN RESEARCH ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SCHEDULED RESPONSES AND PARTICIPANT DIALOGUE PERTAINING TO THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE INCLUDED THROUGHOUT THE VOLUME. NOTES ACCOMPANY EACH PAPER, AND SOME TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. FOR RELATED DOCUMENTS, SEE NCJ #64521-33. (WJR)