EDUCATION, LAWLESSNESS AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN AMERICA

• NCJ Number: 56105
• Author(s): H H PUNKE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 497 pages
• Corporate Author: Christopher Publishing House
• Sale Source: Christopher Publishing House
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

LAWLESSNESS AND RELATED SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT GREATLY DIMINISH WITHOUT PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED TO SUPPORT THE COURTS, POLICE AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

FAILURE TO SUPPORT COURTS, POLICE, AND EDUCATION STEMS FROM PROBLEMS RELATED TO LAWLESSNESS, CORRUPTION, AND A SENSE OF IMMORALITY. PART OF THE DIFFICULTY LIES IN THE POPULAR CONCEPTION OF SUPPORT, A CONCEPTION WHICH FOCUSES LARGELY ON TAXATION AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF SUPPORT FOR COURT, POLICE, AND EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES. THIS CONCEPTION GIVES INSUFFICIENT ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS TO SPEND SOME TIME AND ENERGY IN SUPPLYING ESSENTIAL INFORMATION, EVALUATING AGENCY PERFORMANCE, PROMOTING MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND OTHERWISE CONTRIBUTING TO AGENCY OPERATION AND INTEGRITY. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL ORDER AND IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL CHANGE. AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS IS ON THE BELIEF THAT AMERICANS HAVE OVERSIMPLIFIED SOCIETAL PROBLEMS PERTAINING TO LAW AND ORDER, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO PIECEMEAL EFFORTS IN RELATIVELY ISOLATED AREAS OF SOCIAL ACTION. BASIC THEMES ADDRESSED TO SUPPORT THE CONTENTION OF A SIGNIFICANT RELATION AMONG LAW AND ORDER, POLITICAL CORRUPTION, AND SOCIAL ORDER FACTORS INCLUDE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE REGULATORY SYSTEM, THE ROLE OF COURTS IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT LAWLESSNESS, THE POLICE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES, AND THE SCHOOLS AND OTHER AGENCIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION. IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY OF LAW AND ORDER ARE DISCUSSED AS THEY CONCERN ORDER AND INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL VALUES, DELINQUENCY, VICTIMS OF CRIME, AND IDEALS AND THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF LAWLESSNESS AND ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF LAWLESSNESS AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY. AN INDEX IS INCLUDED, AS WELL AS FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES. (DEP)