CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS AND NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA - A REPORT

• NCJ Number: 67795
• Author(s): E G COX
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 124 pages
• Corporate Author: Manitoba Dept of Community Services and Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Manitoba Dept of Community Services and Corrections
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: THERE IS A CHARGE FOR MORE THAN ONE COPY.

Annotation

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, WEST GERMANY, AND THE NETHERLANDS ARE DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON CORRECTIONS AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A CANADIAN CORRECTIONAL EXPERT.

Abstract

THE FIRST SECTION DESCRIBES THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES OF THE LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE AS A NATIONAL SERVICE, ALONG WITH THE BUREAUCRACY OF MAGISTRATES WHICH CONSTITUTES SCOTLAND YARD. CONTRASTS BETWEEN PROGRESSIVE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND THE OBSOLETE INSTITUTIONS ARE NOTED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MODERN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY FOR PSYCHOPATHIC OFFENDERS AT GRENDON IS COMPARED TO THE REGIMES OF CORRECTIONS FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISONS FOR DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT CRIMINALS (E.G., IRA MALE AND FEMALE TERRORISTS) ARE NOTED. THE EMPHASIS ON FIRST-RATE AND REALISTIC VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND PRISON WORK IS DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE STRONG POINTS OF THE WEST GERMAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. THEN THE LEGAL TRAINING FOR WEST GERMAN CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL IS COMPARED TO THE SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY-ORIENTED EDUCATION REQUIRED FOR THEIR BRITISH COUNTERPARTS. OTHER TYPICAL FEATURES OF THE WEST GERMAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM COVERED ARE INSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENT OF INMATES BY AGE GROUP (I.E., 14 TO 17, 18 TO 22 AND 23 PLUS); EFFORTS AT ACHIEVING A UNIFIED CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM ACROSS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY; EMPHASIS ON STRICT DISCIPLINE FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS SIMILAR TO GREAT BRITAIN'S, PLUS A HARD-WORK REGIME; AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT AND SANITARY CONDITIONS IN ALL FACILITIES. STRINGENT LEGISLATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMBINED WITH EMPHASIS ON WORK AND TRAINING, RATHER THAN PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION TREATMENT, ARE PERCEIVED AS THE OVERALL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE DELIVERY SYSTEM. THE ULTRA-PROGRESSIVE AND LENIENT CRIMINAL POLICIES OF THE NETHERLANDS CONTAIN SUCH FEATURES AS EXTREMELY SHORT SENTENCES FOR ALL TYPES OF OFFENSES (UNDER 6 MONTHS); TREATMENT IN NONINSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS; AND HIGH ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR JUDGES. A NARRATIVE ADDENDUM ON THE HISTORY OF CORRECTIONS IS APPENDED.