Lessons for the Criminal Justice System From Twenty Years of Policing Reform

• NCJ Number: 164495
• Author(s): J Travis
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 10 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/NCJRS; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the First Annual Conference of the New York Campaign for Effective Crime Policy, March 10, 1996

Annotation

The Director of the National Institute of Justice notes that significant criminal justice system reforms over the past 20 years involve policing reforms, in particular community policing, and sentencing reforms.

Abstract

Community policing engages the police and the community in problem-solving. Narrow benchmarks of police productivity, such as response time, arrests, and patrol strength, now compete with measures of fear, urban disorder, citizen satisfaction, and quality of life. Within the policing organization itself, the emphasis is on flexibility and innovation. Community policing views the community as a full partner in assuring public safety and in focusing on solving specific problems that are important to the community. In the area of sentencing, the expanded use of imprisonment has severely restricted the use of discretion by judges, correctional officials, and parole and probation officers. The community can also be involved in sentencing and corrections, and the importance of problem-solving in both policing and sentencing is discussed. Examples of local crime prevention initiatives are provided.