NCJ Number
55661
Date Published
1978
Length
34 pages
Annotation
THE MEETING OF THE ARAB CONFERENCE FOR SOCIAL DEFENSE RAISED ISSUES INCLUDING CRIME TRENDS, JUVENILE JUSTICE, THE ABUSE OF POWER AND DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
THE FIRST DISCUSSION CONCENTRATED ON CRIME PREVENTION; CURRENT TRENDS WERE ANALYSED IN THE ARAB COUNTRIES. TOPICS THAT NEED MORE RESEARCH WERE DISCUSSED INCLUDING METHODS OF RECORDING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND DISCRETIONARY POWER IN SENTENCING. STRATEGIES FOR UNIFIED CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE ARAB STATES WERE SUMMARIZED. PRINCIPLES FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY WERE FORMULATED AROUND ISSUES SUCH AS POVERTY, FAMILY DISORGANIZTION, SCHOOLS, AND THE REFORM OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. CRIME AND THE ABUSE OF POWER WERE NEXT ADDRESSED. FOUR ASPECTS WERE DISCUSSED: DEFINING DELIBERATE CRIMES BY MEN IN POWER, MEANS OF REVIEWING AND REPORTING CRIMES RELATED TO THE ABUSE OF POWER, MOTIVES AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES, AND SOCIAL REACTION TO THESE CRIMES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT CRIMES RELATED TO THE ABUSE OF POWER SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER CRIMES PUNISHABLE UNDER CRIMINAL AND ECONOMIC LAW SUCH AS BRIBERY, EMBEZZLEMENT, AND FRAUD. THREE ASPECTS WERE DISCUSSED: (1) EVALUATION OF INCARCERATION, (2) REVIEW OF THE ALTERNATIVES OF INCARCERATION, (3) DEFINITION OF THE TERM 'RESIDUAL' CRIMINAL, THE RELEVANCE OF THESE PENALTIES AND ALTERNATIVES AND THEIR EFFECT ON THEM. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED FINDING ALTERNATIVES FOR IMPRISONMENT WHENEVER POSSIBLE; DEVELOPING PUNITIVE INSTITUTIONS, AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE NECESSARY POTENTIALS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THEIR BAD EFFECTS AND HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR MISSION. FINALLY, THE UNITED NATIONS NORMS AND GUIDELINES IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE WERE DISCUSSED. THE BASIC POINTS COVERED WERE THE NECESSITY OF TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ELEMENT OF CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL AND ARAB CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS, THE NECESSITY OF ADHERING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SUPREMECY OF LAW AND FIRMLY ESTABLISHING THE RULES AND STANDARDS OF HUMAN TREATMENT, THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING UP AND ANALYZING THE MUTUAL REFLECTIONS BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND ARAB CHANGES AND EVENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SHOULD ELIMINATE THE GAP BETWEEN CITIZENS AND INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE. (STB)