NCJ Number
137096
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (1992) Pages: 147- 160
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Using materials from the Ford Library at the University of Michigan, this article examines President Gerald Ford's positions on a variety of criminal justice issues, dealing with two major concerns, namely crime prevention and criminal corrections and punishment.
Abstract
Ford's positions were affected by his personality and leadership style; other factors which influenced his opinions included the political issues of the time, the president's general political philosophy, broad crime goals, and the crime policy particulars. Under the rubric of crime prevention, the issue of most concern to President Ford was gun control; in general, he supported the citizens' right to bear arms. The President sought to enhance crime prevention through the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration; he reauthorized the LEAA and increased its funding level. As Congressman and President, Ford expressed strongly supported law enforcement search techniques including "no knock" authorization, wiretapping, and "stop and frisk" legislation. The President signed into law the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, even though he believed the specified levels of funding to be excessive. In terms of criminal corrections and punishment, President Ford was concerned with crime punishment for career criminals, pre-trial diversion, correctional reform, drug abuse, and capital punishment. With regards to the latter issue, Ford favored capital punishment with limited exceptions, did not support a mandatory death penalty, and believed that capital punishment served as a deterrent against future crimes. 26 notes and 4 references (Author abstract modified)