CRIME REFORM OR SOCIAL REFORM IS THE WRONG QUESTION WE NEED BOTH

• NCJ Number: 47172
• Journal: Center Magazine Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1977) Pages: 22-28
• Author(s): E M KENNEDY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Ctr for the Study of Democratic Institutions
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE RISE IN CRIME IS THE RESULT OF CHANGING SOCIAL CONDITIONS. SPECIFIC STEPS ARE NEEDED TO REDUCE CRIME, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW FEDERAL CODE.

Abstract

THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS OR SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME IN AMERICA. THE RISING CRIME RATE OF RECENT YEARS IS DUE IN PART TO POPULATION SHIFTS RESULTING FROM THE POST-WORLD WAR TWO BABY BOOM WHICH HAS PRODUCED A LARGE POPULATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS. THE EXPANDING POOL OF YOUNG OFFENDERS IS CONCOMITANT WITH THE GROWTH OF YOUTH AND MINORITY UNEMPLOYMENT. OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN THE RISE OF THE CRIME RATE ARE THE SOCIAL TURBULENCE OF THE LAST 15 YEARS, THE EMERGENCE OF AN AFFLUENT CONSUMER SOCIETY, AND AN OVERBURDENED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM OF CRIME CANNOT BE DEALT WITH MERELY BY ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING SOCIAL CAUSES: SPECIFIC AND CONCRETE STEPS ARE NEEDED. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM. THE CORNERSTONE OF THIS NEW APPROACH SHOULD BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODERN, COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE WHICH WOULD ENCOMPASS NOT ONLY ELIMINATION OF THE FLAWS AND CONFUSIONS OF EXISTING CODE PROVISIONS BUT ALSO OMISSIONS IN AREAS SUCH AS CONSUMER CRIME AND GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. MOST CRITICALLY, THE FEDERAL SENTENCING POLICY MUST BE REEXAMINED SO AS TO ELIMINATE INEQUITIES. THE PROPOSED FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE REFORM ACT OF 1977 REORGANIZES THE CURRENT CODE IN A LOGICAL AND CONSISTENT MANNER. THE BILL OVERHAULS THE ENTIRE FEDERAL SENTENCING PROCESS AND IN PARTICULAR ESTABLISHES A COMMISSION ON SENTENCING, WITH A MANDATE TO SET SPECIFIC, NARROW RANGES ON SENTENCES FOR EACH CRIME AND FOR EACH CATEGORY OF OFFENDER. IN ADDITION TO CODE REFORM, OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS SUCH AS GUN CONTROL, REFORM OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION, AND WHITE COLLAR CRIME MUST ALSO BE DEALT WITH IN THE EFFORT TO COMBAT CRIME. (DJM)