NCJ Number
54850
Journal
International Review of Criminal Policy Volume: 34, Dated: (1978) Pages: 11-18
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE ESTABLISHMENT, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND PROSPECTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) COMMITTEE ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL ARE SURVEYED.
Abstract
THE COMMITTEE WAS SET UP IN RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FOURTH UN CONGRESS ON THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, HELD AT KYOTO, JAPAN, IN 1970. THE CONFERENCE CALLED FOR THE BROADENING OF SOCIAL DEFENSE PLANNING, MORE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN CRIME PREVENTION, REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBERS OF IMPRISONED PERSONS, AND GREATER ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF YOUTH, TO DRUG ABUSE, AND TO WHITE-COLLAR AND ORGANIZED CRIME. THE COMMITTEE, 1 OF 24 SUBSIDIARY AND RELATED BODIES WITHIN THE UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, REPRESENTED AN ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME THE INERTIA THAT HAD CHARACTERIZED UN INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION. FOR MANY YEARS, MEMBER STATES HAD BEEN MORE CONCERNED WITH MATERIAL IMPROVEMENT AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE THAN WITH THE GROWTH OF CRIME, CORRUPTION AND INTERNATIONAL LAWLESSNESS. BUT FROM THE OUTSET, THE COMMITTEE WAS HAMPERED BY A LACK OF FUNDING AND COULD MEET ONLY ONCE EVERY 2 YEARS. THERE WERE NO FUNDS FOR TASK-ORIENTED SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS BETWEEN REGULAR COMMITTEE MEETINGS. ONLY A SMALL SECRETARIAT STAFF WAS AVAILABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AT THE TIME THE REPORT WAS WRITTEN, THE COMMITTEE HAD MET FOUR TIMES. THE AGENDA OF EACH SESSION IS REVIEWED, THE CHANGING MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE IS DESCRIBED, AND EACH SESSION'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE SUMMARIZED. AMONG THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MOST RECENT SESSION WAS THE ADOPTION OF A DRAFT CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND A REPORT ON METHODS OF PREVENTING CRIME AND IMPROVING THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS. THE COMMITTEE'S FUTURE WOULD BE BRIGHTER WERE ITS STATUS ENHANCED AND ITS SCOPE AND INDEPENDENCE OF OPERATION INCREASED. HOWEVER, SUCH A STRENGTHENING OF THE COMMITTEE PROBABLY MUST WAIT UNTIL THE PROBLEM OF CRIME BECOMES SO GREAT THAT UN MEMBER STATES REGARD IT AS WORTHY OF THE SAME LEVEL OF ATTENTION THAT HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON SUCH MATTERS AS POLLUTION, POPULATION, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. (LKM)