NCJ Number
69416
Editor(s)
W N SEYMOUR,
H BAER,
R N GOTTFRIED,
F B LOONEY,
R B MCKAY,
N SCOPPETTA,
P TUFO
Date Published
1979
Length
201 pages
Annotation
IN DISCUSSING NEW YORK CITY CRIME, THIS BOOK COVERS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ITS PROBLEMS, POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS, AND WAYS CITIZENS CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES AND HELP PREVENT CRIME.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH CITIZENS OF NEW YORK CITY ARE MOST FRIGHTENED OF BEING RAPED OR MURDERED, THE INCIDENCE OF THESE CRIMES IS VERY SMALL COMPARED WITH THE INCIDENCE OF ROBBERY OR BURGLARY. DISCUSSION COVERS CRIME CLEARANCE RATES, SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CRIME, AND WHY CRIME AND VIOLENCE ARE MORE PREVALENT AMONG THE POOR. RULES FOR SELF-PROTECTION COVER HOME, PERSONAL AND BUSINESS SECURITY, AND HOW TO REPORT CRIMES. COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION TOPICS INCLUDE DETAILS OF A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. DISCUSSION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COVERS MAKING ARRESTS; PROCESSING OFFENDERS THROUGH COURT; AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS, SUCH AS OVERWORKED COURTS DISPENSING CURSORY JUSTICE, DELAYS IN GETTING A DEFENDANT TO TRIAL, JUDGES ALLOWING CHARGES TO BE LOWERED TO SPEED UP TRIALS AND HEARINGS, AND BAD COURT TREATMENT OF CRIME VICTIMS. ALL THESE PROBLEMS PREVENT DETERRENCE OR ENCOURAGE CRIME. TRIAL OR HEARING DELAYS ARE SHORTAGES OF JUDGES AND COURTROOMS, BY THE STALLING OF DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BY LATE ARRIVALS, BY COMPLEX CHANGE PROCESSING, BY POOR COURT CASE SCHEDULING, BY THE STALLING OF DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, AND BY LACK OF COORDINATION AMONG CRIMINAL JUSTICE ELEMENTS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING CRIME DETERRENCE AND FOR PREVENTING CRIME INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF POLICE PATROLMEN ON FOOT, TEAM POLICING, CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGIES AIMED AT PARTICULAR CRIMES RATHER THAN AT CRIME IN GENERAL, COURT DIVERSION PROGRAMS INVOLVING RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS OR FINES, DECRIMINALIZATION OF SOME CRIMES TO HELP CUT COURT WORKLOADS, AND BETTER METHODS OF CHOOSING JUDGES. DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR NEW YORK CITY ARE INCLUDED. CHARTS AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED.