NCJ Number
56203
Date Published
1978
Length
43 pages
Annotation
THIS STATEMENT OF THE U.S. CATHOLIC CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO CRIME, PRINCIPLES AFFECTING PUBLIC POLICES AND INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS, CRIME CAUSES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES, AND THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH.
Abstract
MURDER, RAPE, AND ARMED ROBBERY ARE SOME OF THE MOST OBVIOUS FORMS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, BUT AN EXCLUSIVE EMPHASIS ON VIOLENT CRIME NEGLECTS A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, THE ABUSE OF POWER BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, DISCRIMINATION, AND CONSUMER FRAUD SERIOUSLY HARM SOCIETY BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE BREAKDOWN OF TRUST AMONG PEOPLE. THE COST OF CRIME ENCOMPASSES THE LOSS OF LIFE, PERSONAL INJURY, AND ACTUAL EXPENDITURES INVOLVED IN PROPERTY AND FINANCIAL LOSSES FROM FRAUD, THEFT, AND EMBEZZLEMENT. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIMINAL LAW AND MORALITY IS COMPLEX, WITH THE SCOPE OF MORAL RESPONSIBILITY OFTEN EXCEEDING THAT OF CRIMINAL LAW. CRIME CAUSES INCLUDE THE ADOPTION OF FALSE VALUES, SOCIAL INJUSTICE, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORHOOD BREAKDOWN, AND LACK OF MORAL LEADERSHIP. THERE ARE TWO BASIC APPROACHES TO THE PREVENTION OF CRIME. ONE IS CONCERNED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, WHILE THE OTHER AIMS AT SOCIETY AND THE COMMUNITY. SIGNIFICANT CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES ARE PRISONS/JAILS VERSUS COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES, SENTENCING, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, YOUTH CRIME, NONVIOLENT CRIME, HANDGUN CONTROL, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM, COMMUNITY-CRIME PREVENTION, RESEARCH, AND SPECIAL CONCERNS (CRIME VICTIMS, ELDERLY PERSONS, AND THE MEDIA). RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL CHURCHES AND THE GOVERNMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION ARE EXAMINED. FOOTNOTES AND A FORMAL STATEMENT OF THE U.S. CATHOLIC CONFERENCE ON THE REFORM OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE 1970'S ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)