NCJ Number
4895
Date Published
1971
Length
266 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF RECENT LITERATURE WHICH SURVEYS THE STATE OF THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, IDENTIFIES ITS MAJOR PROBLEMS AND ASSESSES SOME OF THE MORE PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS.
Abstract
SUBJECTS EXAMINED INCLUDE CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS AND INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. THE AUTHOR FOUND THAT IN SPITE OF THE VOLUMINOUS LITERATURE, THERE IS A LACK OF RELIABLE RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION. MOST OF THE EMPIRICAL STUDIES ARE BASED ON AGENCY DATA DERIVED FROM THE FILES OF POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THESE DATA, AT BEST, RECORD THE DECISIONS MADE BY AUTHORITIES AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDERS AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS. THE GREAT BULK OF THE LITERATURE IS OF A NONEMPIRICAL, JUDGMENTAL, AND CONTENTIOUS VARIETY. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DEAL WITH THIS MATERIAL BY IDENTIFYING MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS, FRAMES OF REFERENCE, AND LINES OF REASONING. BIBLIOGRAPHIES FOR EACH SUBJECT ARE PROVIDED.