NCJ Number
63247
Journal
PROBATION OFFICER Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 14-19
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE STATE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA STRESSES THE NEED FOR INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ITS PROBLEMS AND FOR THE SPECIAL ROLE VOLUNTEERS PLAY IN THIS REGARD.
Abstract
VOLUNTEERISM HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS WHICH CANNOT BE SUPPLANTED BY PROFESSIONALISM. VOLUNTEERS ARE IN A POSITION TO DO THINGS THEY WOULD NOT DO FOR MONEY; THEY CAN EXPERIMENT WITH INNOVATIONS TOO DARING FOR EMPLOYEES OF CONSERVATIVE BUREAUCRACIES. MOREOVER, THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS TO REFUSE THEIR SERVICES TO EFFORTS WHICH THEY DO NOT CONDONE IS GREATER THAN THAT OF EMPLOYEES WORKING FOR THE SYSTEM. THE IMMENSE INEFFICIENCY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PARTIALLY BLAMED ON ITS DISTANCE FROM THE COMMUNITY; THE PEOPLE ARE ILL INFORMED OF ITS NATURE AND OPERATIONS. SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE IN NEED OF INFORMATIVE CURRICULA ABOUT THE LAW AND ITS INSTITUTIONS. THE VOLUNTEERS REPRESENT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE DEPRIVED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED WHO CONSTITUTE THE GRIST OF THE MILL OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VOLUNTEERS MUST BRING THE COURTS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO THE COURTS. THE IMPERSONALITY OF THE COURTS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A RESIDUE OF THE IDEA THAT OFFENSES ARE COMMITTED AGAINST THE KING'S PEACE RATHER THAN AGAINST OTHER PERSONS. INSTITUTIONALIZATION MUST GRADUALLY BE REDUCED AND PENAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY BASED ALTERNATIVES, MUST BE DIVERSIFIED. JAPAN AND CHINA ARE CITED AS THE ONLY TWO MODERN STATES WITH RECEDING CRIME RATES, ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PROCESSES OF JUSTICE. VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE MEANS MORE SCRUTINY OF THE COURTS AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ETIOLOGY OF CRIME, AND MORE REAL JUSTICE. (MRK)