NCJ Number
52369
Date Published
1978
Length
261 pages
Annotation
AN OFFICER OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE PENAL SYSTEM AND FORMER MAGISTRATE REFLECTS ON HER NEARLY 50 YEARS IN ENGLISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE. GENERAL AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS FACING THE COURTS ARE UNDERSCORED.
Abstract
BARBARA WOOTEN SERVED FOR 44 YEARS AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE IN LONDON, INCLUDING MANY YEARS AS A CHAIRMAN IN THE METROPOLITAN JUVENILE COURTS AND DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH WESTMINSTER BENCH. SHE HAS ALSO WORKED WITH VARIOUS GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES AND VISITED PENAL INSTITUTIONS ON FIVE CONTINENTS. THIS BOOK, WRITTEN LARGELY FROM A HISTORICAL POINT OF VIEW, REVIEWS THIS EXPERIENCE AND HER ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PENAL POLICY AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE PENAL SYSTEM, AND OTHER OFFICIAL COMMITTEES. COURT DECISIONMAKING IS DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THE SENTENCING FUNCTION, AND LIMITATIONS ON THE SENTENCING FUNCTION. THE USE OF LAY WORKERS, THE DEMOGRAPHIC COMPOSITION OF THE MAGISTRY, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF COURT PERSONNEL ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE CUSTODIAL AND NONCUSTODIAL SENTENCES, THEIR POLICY FOUNDATIONS, THE LOGISTICS OF THEIR APPLICATION, AND THE INSTITUTIONS TO WHICH OFFENDERS ARE COMMITTED. SPECIAL PROBLEMS FACING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) MURDER, THE RELATIVE STABILITY OF HOMICIDE RATES, AND THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT; (2) YOUNG OFFENDERS, THE PERVASIVE NATURE OF DELINQUENCY, AND THE APPARENT INABILITY TO DISCOVER OR REMEDY ITS CAUSES; (3) THE RELATIVELY RECENT, SYSTEMATIC MISUSE OF DRUGS AND THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF ALCOHOL ABUSE; (4) THE DILEMMA POSED BY CONTINUED FORMAL COURT ADJUDICATION OF TRAFFIC LAW OFFENSES; AND (5) LEGISLATING AND ADMINISTERING EQUITABLE GUIDELINES C0NCERNING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE MENTALLY ABNORMAL OFFENDER. REFERENCE NOTES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)